v* 
aV 



v^^ '^^. 



■J ,^- 



^^ V 















.^^ 



</> 



^^<^ 



^5 -^/.^ 









^?^' 



^ .A 



V 



A >^ 



^oo^ 









rA V 



^V ^c^^ 






^> .^^' 



^' 



s /\ 






'.'^c. 



.V 



^^.^>^ 

s^^. 









c>' 






'J^-. 

^C^. 



.A- 



,-.^^ 



'""^^ 









\ 



o^ ,\^^ 









^^ 



.^^■ 



^^.. V^^ 






A>' 



^0^ 






'^o 0^ 



i^ 



r^ %. 



v^ 



.'^' 



,0 






r . 



</' ,-;v 



* V 



-V 



.'% 



.^ '^^ 



^^. 



> 



:^ V 






A HISTORY -^g. 



OF THE TOWN OF 



GREENWICH, 



FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONN., 



WITH 



JUnng Jntpijiant ^tatistt4E5. 



BY 



DANIEL M. MEAD, 

ATTORNEY, ETC., AT LAW, GREENWICH, CONN. 



. »>» 



NEW YORK: 
PAKER & GOD ^V IN, PRINTERS 

CORNER NASSAU AND SPRUCE STREETS. 
I 8 5 7, 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1857, by 

DANIEL M. MEAD, 
In the Clerk's Office for the District Court of Connecticut. 






CONTENTS. 



Introduction . 

Discovery 

Petuquapaen . 

Settlement 

Agreements with Neighbors 

Trouble with the Indians 

Legend of Labden's Rock 

A New Expedition 

The Successful Attack 

Boundary on the West . 

Increase of Inhabitants, &c. 

Items from 1G65 to 1G90 . 

Another Quarter of a Century : 1690 to 1715 

Episcopalianism . 

1715 TO Revolutionary War 

French War 

The Revolutionary War 

Incidents of the Revolution 

Tryon's Expedition . 

Rivington's Press 

Expeditions on the Sound 

Skirmish beyond King Street 

The Enemy's Excursion to North Stamford 

Andrew Mead, Humphrey Denton, and Richard Mead 

Mill and Docks at Mianus .... 

The War OF 1812 . . . . . 

Constitution of 1818 .... 

Skimeton Parties . . . . . 



Page 

5 

13 

18 

21 

26 

30 

41 

48 

47 

54 

59 

65 

74 

97 

107 

114 

130 

153 

159 

175 

176 

179 

181 

182 

185 

190 

195 

198 



CONTENTS. 



APPENDIX. 

Faikfield County .... 

Sovereigns of England after the Settlement 

Governors of Connecticut . 

Town Officers 

Business Directory . 

School Districts . 

Indian Names 

Chronological Table 

The Second Congregational Society 

Methodist Episcopal Society 

Christ's Church 

Emanuel Church, at Glenville . 

Genealogy of the Mead Family 

Genealogy of the Peck Family 

Biographical Notice of Rev. Jeremiah Peck 

The Brundig Family 

The Bush Family 

The Close Family 

The Curtis Family . 

The Dayton Family 

The Field Family 

The Ferris Family 

The Holmes Family . 

The Lyon Family 

The Lockwood Family 

The Palmer Family 

The Purdy Family 

The Brush Family 

The Lewis Family 

The Howe Family , 



Page 
211 
227 
227 

229 
235 
243 
245 
246 
251 
268 
270 
273 
277 
295 
300 
306 
306 
307 
309 
311 
312 
312 
313 
313 
S13 
314 
314 
315 
316 
317 



INTRODUCTION. 



• ♦ • 



The author, when very young, was mucli 
interested with the tales and ditties of olden 
time; and was in the habit of spending the 
days, not occupied at school, in -the office of 
our present town-clerk, Samuel Close, Esq., in 
searching the early records of the town. As 
a result, many things of interest were found 
upon the decayed and much-worn, early rec- 
ords. We found too, that this town was the 
scene of many important incidents, in the his- 
tory of our country, which have never been 
recorded on the pages of history ; and that 
the few that have been noticed by historians, 
are mentioned in so vague and uncertain a 
light as to be of little use to the public. 



g INTRODUCTION. 

We therefore set ourselves to work to col- 
lect the more important facts aad incidents 
for publication, that onr fellow-citizens might 
have them in a convenient form for reference, 
and that many facts which otherwise would 
have been lost may be preserved. We have 
not published matters of mere private interest; 
but only such things as appear to us to be of 
importance to the public. Such as it is, the 
volume is now before you. Its reliability 
may be depended upon as far as it goes; 
though no doubt many would have made it a 
more voluminous work. 

We have been especially indebted for as- 
sistance to our obliging town-clerk, to Col. 
Thomas A. Mead (and papers and reminis- 
cences in his possession), and to several aged 
people of the town. The other works to 
which we have referred with advantage are, 
O'Callaghan's History of the New Nether- 
lands, Bolton's History of Westchester County, 



INTRODUCTION. 7 

Trumbull's, Barber's and Hollister's Histories 
of Connecticut, and others. 

For our genealogy of tlie Mead family we 
are indebted in part to a manuscript in the 
possession of Titus Mead, Esq. Other genea- 
logies are accredited properly on the pages of 
the volume. 

The Author's services are at the command 
of any person, for assistance in collecting their 
genealogies from the town or other records. 

Dedicating this volume to his fellow citizens 
of the town of Greenwich, the author would 
Remain their 

Humble servant, 

D. M. MEAD. 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 



• ♦ • 



DISCOVEEY. 



QuiNNEHTUKQUT, the old Indian name for 
Connecticut, lying behind Long Island and a 
Sound with one outlet almost impassable to 
the unaquainted navigator, escajDed for a while 
the attention of the early European navigators. 
And although John and Sebastian Cabot, in 
1498, sailed along the whole coast of North 
America under the auspices of cross old 
Henry VIII., yet they never caught a view 
of Connecticut. Nevertheless, King Henry 
deemed himself rightfully possessed of the 
whole territory of North America, because, 
forsooth, a few of his subjects had cast their 
eyes on some of the jutting caj)es and prom- 
ontories. In 1524, John Verazzano, a Floren- 
tine adventurer, with an outfit under the 
auspices of King Francis I. of France, sailed 
2 



14 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

along nearly the same extent of coast more 
leisurely, and lie more definitely explored its 
bays and harbors. He lay with his vessel fif- 
teen days in the beautiful harbor of Newport. 
Whether he visited New York Bay is still a 
mooted question among authors. The French 
maintain and the Dutch deny, that he did so. 
But it is not claimed by any that he sailed 
through the Sound ; and he must have passed 
by without having seen the bays and harbors 
of Connecticut. 

Hendricke Hudson, on the 4th of September, 
1609, with a mixed crew of English and Dutch 
on board the Half-moon (Halve-Maan), sailed 
gallantly into New York harbor. He pro- 
ceeded up the Noi'th river instead of the East, 
and searched for the Northwest Passage ; for 
he sailed with the same purpose which actuated 
the unfortunate Sir John Franklin three hun- 
dred and fifty years later. Though Hudson 
was in his own purpose unsuccessful, yet his 
discoveries led to the early settlement of the 
Island of Manhattan. The Dutch soon com- 
menced trading with the Indians along the 
shores of the Hudson, which river the Indians 
called Mahiccannittuck. And then in the 
early part of 1613, began the early settlement 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 15 

of Niew Amsterdam under tlie command of 
Hendricke Corstiaensen, wlio afterward became 
noted as an adventurer. Four small huts 
built at that time, were the small beginnings 
of the present city of New York. 

About this time there was a check upon 
marine enterprise throughout all Europe. 
The Dutch, being then the most extensive 
navigators, recovered first from its effects. An 
Ordinance, passed at Gravenhague by the As- 
sembly, on the 27th of March, 1614, restored 
to their navigators their customary activity. 
A company of merchants fitted out a fleet of 
five ships, and put them under the command 
of three distinguished sailors, Adrien Block, 
Hendricke Corstiaensen, and Cornelius Jacob- 
son Mey. All arrived safely at Mew Amster- 
dam on the " mouth of the great river of the 
Manhattans " in the latter part of September 
of the same year. Here they separated. It 
was the intention of Block to sail farther up 
the Hudson than the original discoverer had 
done, while Corstiaensen should examine the 
Southern coast of Long Island (Serwan-Hacky 
or Mentoac, the land of shells), and Mey, his 
other fellow-commander, should sail along the 
coast of New Jersey. 



16 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

After the departure of his former comrades, 
Block was compelled by accident to relinquish 
his design. His vessel was consumed by fire, 
while yet lying at Niew Amsterdam filled with 
provision for the projected expedition. But 
the intrepid Dutchman, not disheartened by 
the loss of his ship and the absence of his fel- 
low-voyagers, immediately built a small vessel, 
which he called the Kestless. Its length was 
forty-four and a half feet, and its breadth 
eleven and a half. This was the beginning of 
ship-building in New York, now owning the 
largest and fleetest ships in the world. 

Not knowing whether the Hudson would 
lead to a northwest passage or not. Block 
would not venture in so small a vessel to find 
out, but chose rather to explore the East 
Biver. Accordingly, proceeding in this new 
direction, the Bestless passed safely through 
a dangerous strait, to which Block gave the 
name which it has borne ever since, calling it 
" Hellegat, after a branch of the river Scheldt 
in East Flanders." After reaching the open 
sound he kept along the northern shore. Con- 
sequently he made the first discovery of what 
now forms Connecticut, when, from the deck 
of his vessel, he and his crew looked upon the 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 17 

rocky hills of Greenwicli. This was in the 
early part of 1614. As he passed by them, 
he named the Norwalk Islands the " Archipele- 
gos," and the Housatonic he called the " River 
of the Red Mountains." Farther on he dis- 
covered the Connecticut, and calling it Fresh 
River, he sailed several miles from its mouth 
upward. Descending again, he continued his 
course through the Sound. Block Island yet 
bears the name of the navigator himself. Off 
Cape Cod he fell in with his former companion 
Corstiaensen, who had been exploring the 
southern coast of Long Island. 

The crew of the Restless then, having been 
diverted this way by accident, were the first 
to look upon our hills. Yet they passed by, 
only seeing. This was ^ve years previous to 
the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, in 
1620. We will now forget those European 
visitors, and turn our attention to the native 
Indians, and look at their situation as given us 
by the various authorities, O'Callaghan in 
particular. Not having seen the stranger vis- 
itors, who passed them in a single day, they 
little dreamed of the terrible destruction about 
to come upon them by the hands of the 
brethren of these very strangers who came 



18 niSTOKY OF GREENWICH. 

tlius boldly with their winged canoes into un- 
known waters. Or if, perchance, some watch- 
ful warrior ever on the look out, descried the 
whitened sail, we have no record preserved by 
the Indians of what was done at their council 
fires, chronicling the curious expressions of 
fear, of wonder, admiration, or bravery, which 
were expressed by the fierce, wise old Chiefs 
and Sachems of Sioascock. But such excite- 
ment, if any existed, gradually died away, and 
the Indians returned to their more peaceful 
and profitable employments of hunting, clam- 
ming, and fishing. 

PETUQUAPAEN. 

On the present main road passing through 
the town of Greenwich, about mid-way be- 
tween Stamford and the New York boundary 
line, was situated this Indian village. The 
plain, now called Stricklands, is divided by a 
small brook bearing the same name, which 
enters the western bank of the Myanos River 
and is thus emptied into the Sound. On the 
west side of this brook, and close under a 
rather abrupt eminence, on which now stands 
the house of William White, Esq., were built 
three rows of closely collected Indian huts 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 19 

made of bark. " These three rows were some- 
what more than eighty yards in length, 
stretching along under a high bluff covered 
with tall oaks which sheltered the town from 
the chilling northwest winds." 

On the plain, east of the hamlet and between 
it and Strickland's brook, the wood and un- 
derbrush had been cleared away and the 
ground fitted for raising Indian corn. This 
brook then ran more clearly than now, as a 
distillery has since cast in its refuse and helped 
the formation of a miry, creek mud. Here 
the Indians drew up their canoes, after a fish- 
ing excursion upon the Myanos or the neigh- 
boring waters of the Sound. To the north, 
far away for hundreds of miles, extended the 
Green Mountains, abounding in game, which 
the Indians residing at the very foot of that 
beautiful range of hills, hunted both for plea- 
sure and subsistence. To the southwest lay 
an extended SAvamp, a part of which still 
exists as such, which afforded a safe retreat to 
the inhabitants when attacked by their enemies, 
the Mohawks, a much stronger and fiercer tribe 
of the northwest. 

Northeast from this Indian village, and 
about a mile north of the present village of 



20 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

DumpliDg Pond, was an Indian fort, known to 
tliem as Betuckqnapock, to wliicli they could 
retire when any danger apprg) ached from 
across the Sound. In such a situation, and one 
seemingly so desirable for savage life, these 
aborigines lived for centuries, unknowing and 
unknown by European nations. It is not 
wonderful that, in time of trouble, the Indians 
should congregate here in great numbers, rais- 
ing their tents by the side of the more per- 
manent ones constitutino^ the villasre. 

The tract of land about Petuquapaen, ex- 
tending from the Patommuck brook (now 
a part of the boundary line between Stamford 
and Greenwich) westward to the two streams 
now known as the Brothers, w^as called by the 
same name. West of this w^as Miossehassaky, 
extending from the Brothers to the Byram river, 
which was called Armonck or Cokamono^. On 
the west bank of the Byram was another though 
smaller village, called Haseco. This was not 
far from the present village of Portchester. 

Petuquapaen and Miossehassaky were ri,early 
equal in extent, together forming Sioascock. 
Over this territory and Poningoe, which w^as 
on the west side of the Byram, Bonus was the 
ruling Sachem. The tribe were Siwanoys. 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 21 

On the northwest of them were the Weeques- 
queecks, who were the friends of the Siwanoys, 
both belonging to the great tribe of Mohegans, 
who were possessed of a great part of Quinneh- 
tukqut (Connecticut). 

Ponns had a brother named Wascussne, 
who was the ruling Sachem of the Kippowams 
or Stamford. Ponus had died previous to 
1640, leaving several sons, who afterward be- 
came powerful and influential chiefs, and had 
much to do with the English and Dutch 
settlers. The names of some of them were 
Owenoke, Taphance, and Onox. 

Before the discovery and settlement of this 
part of the country by Europeans, this was 
one of the most thickly inhabited sections of 
the whole region. Those living regularly at 
Petuquaj)aen were estimated at between three 
and ^ve hundred. And this number was in- 
creased afterward to more than a thousand, 
when others were driven by the Dutch from 
their customary abodes near Mew Amsterdam. 



SETTLEMENT. 



On the sixteenth day of July, 1640, or 
twenty-five years after the discovery of Green- 
wich by Adrien Block, Captain Daniel Patrick, 
a distinguished English pioneer, accompanied 



22 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

by Robert Feaks, landed upon Greenwich. 
Point, by the Indians called Monakewego, 
and finally concluded a bargain with Ow^enoke, 
one of the sons of Ponus, for that part of 
Petuquapaen lying between the Asamuck 
(the next small stream east of the Myanos) 
and the Patommuck rivers. The brooks 
Patommuck and Asamuck gave their names 
severally to those portions of land lying next 
west of them ; so that the land thus purchased 
was more particularly called Patommuck. The 
nature of the bargain will be most easily 
understood from the deed itself, which we 
have below transcribed from the early records 
in the Town Clerk's office. It will be observed 
that the deed prescribes no northern limit to 
the tract, and we have no means of ascertain- 
ing that there was any. 

Wee Amogeron, Sachem of Asamuck, and Ram- 
matthone, Nawhorone, Sachems of Patomuck, have 
soiild unto Robert Feaks and Daniell Patricke all 
theire rights and interests in all ye severall lands 
betwene Asamuck river and Patomuck, which Pa- 
tomuck is a littel river which dividetli ye bounds be- 
twene Capt. Turner's Purchase and this, except ye 
neck by ye indians called Monakewego, by us Eliza- 
beth neck, which neck is ye peticaler percbase of 
Elizabeth Feaks, ye sd Robt. Feaks his wife, to be 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 23 

hers and her heaires or assigns, forever, or else to be 
at ye disposal of ye aforementioned purchasers for- 
ever, to them and theire heaires, executors or as- 
signs, and theye to enjoy all rivers, Islands, and ye 
severall naturall adjuncts of all ye forementioned 
places, neigther shall ye Indians fish within a mille 
of aney english ware, nor invite nor permit any 
other indians to sett down in ye forementioned lands : 
in consideration of which lands ye forementioned 
purchasers are to give unto ye above named sachems 
twentie five coates, whereof they have reserved 
eleven in part payment ; to witness all which, they 
have hereunto sett theire hands this 18 July, 1640. 

AMOGERONE, 
NAWHORONE, 
AMFSETTHEHONE, 
KEOFFERA.M. 
Witness, — Robert A. Heusted, 
Andrew Messenger, 
his r mark. 



Rasobibitt, \ 
Saponas, / 



Whonehoron, V 



? 



Their marks. 



) 



Akeroque, 

Pauonohas, 

Powiatoh. 

Keofi'eram hath sould all his right in ye above sd 
to Jefi*ere Ferris. 

Witness, — Richard Williams, 
Angell Heusted. 

These men were then acting with authority 



24 UISTORT OF GREENWICH. 

from tlie New Haven Colony. They were 
botli noted personages in the early history of 
New England. They had been the pioneers 
in the settlement of many places, and were 
ready to push out into the wilderness at any 
time when the steady habits of the Puritans 
threw too many restraints upon their conduct. 
Elizabeth Feaks, the wife of Robert, had been 
a widow, and was the daughter of Gov. Win- 
throp. A few years ago there was but a 
single descendant of Robert Feaks living in 
Old Greenwich. Jeffere Ferris has many 
descendants, a great part of whom never have 
left the town in which he settled. 

Capt. Patrick was an old soldier. He was 
second in command in the famous Pequot war, 
which terminated so disastrously to the Indians. 
It was Patrick's division which made the suc- 
cessful charge, and fired the fort. 

Another distinguished man became a sort of 
settler on this purchase during the year. Capt. 
John Underbill was a cunning and crafty En- 
glish officer. Though still young, he had seen 
many trials, and learned much by experience. 
He had been Bearer of Dispatches to Queen 
Elizabeth, and a tool and confidential servant 
of the talented but unfortunate Earl of Leices- 
ter, whose courtship with the homely Queen 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 25 

terminated so fatally. On the cleatli of Essex, 
Underbill enlisted in the army of Holland. 
He then distinguished himself as a soldier ; 
and when the Puritans were about to embark 
on their perilous enterprise, he offered himself 
for the position of commandant. But after- 
wards, learning that the brave and popular 
Miles Standish was thought of for that post, 
he wisely withdrew his name. In a few years, 
however, he came to Massachusetts, though 
his principles were really too loose for the 
rigid Puritans. He was compelled to depart, 
and removing to New Hampshire, was made 
governor of the Dover Colony. But Massa- 
chusetts obtaining authority over that colony 
also, he came and settled on a part of Capt. 
Patrick's purchase in Greenwich. Kindred 
spirits, both having been engaged in many 
Indian battles, and of whom Deforest, in his 
Indians of Connecticut, says, — " Both these 
men had been members of New England 
churches, but their conduct had little corre- 
sponded with their professions ; and, unable to 
bear the restraint and frequent admonitions 
which had met them in Massachusetts, they 
had retired to these lonely shores, where 
ministers and church committees were few and 



26 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

far between." Capt. Underliill afterwards 
moved to Killing worth ; but Capt Patrick 
died at his own house in Greenwich, as we 
shall afterwards see. 

With these men there were also some Dutch 
and some English settlers. Among them 
were — 

Jeffere Ferris, Angell Heusted, 

Eobert Heusted, Richard Williams, 

Andrew Messenger, Everardus Bogardus, 

John Winkelman, Cornelius Labden. 

Others were spoken of, though not by name, 
upon the records. They proceeded to build 
their houses, and attended to the customary 
duties of pioneers ; having little to do with 
their neighbors until forced into contentions 
which needed to be settled. 

AGREEMENTS W^TH KEIGHBOES. 

The present town of Stamford was originally 
settled under the name of " Wethersfield Men's 
Plantation ;" and in October, 1640, a conten- 
tion and difficulty arose between the two set- 
tlements concerning their dividing boundary. 
Accordingly, on the 2d of November of the 
same year, a meeting was had of those ap- 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 27 

pointed to represent tlieir respective towns, 
and after considerable discussion tlie following 
arrangement was effected : — 

Wee, the underwritten, mutually Agreed that the 
Dividing line betwene both our Plantations of Green- 
wich and Wethersfield Men's Plantation shall begin 
at Patommog brook, where thee path at present cuts, 
and run on in a straight line to ye west end of aline 
Drawne from ye sides of Wethersfield Men's Plan- 
tation Eiver, which runs by theire towne plot, to bee 
Drawne on a due west point towards Greenwich 
bounds, a neat mile, and from ye west end of ye sd 
line to run due North up into ye contrie, about 
twentie miles ; These lines to run on ye meridian 
compass. Nether will aney of us or shall aney for 
us object against this agreement upon ye account of 
ye Indians ; although we shall at aney time hereafter 
conclude a mistake in respect of what each one 
bought, yett this to stand unalterable, without a 
mutual consent on both sides. To Testifie which, 
wee each for our own townes have sett to our hands 
this 2ond Nov. 1640. 

DANIEL PATRICK, 

ROBT. FEKES, 

ANDREW WARDE, 

ROBERT COE, 

RICHARD GILDERSLEEVE. 

The first two of these were the representa- 
tives of Greenwich, and the remainder from 



28 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

Stamford. With the removal of this bone of 
contention the inhabitants expected peace ; 
but the Dutch began to reiterate their claims 
against the English. The former seemed 
determined, and hostility all but ripened into 
war. As has been said, Greenwich was osten- 
sibly purchased under the favor of the New 
Haven Colony. But our settlers, not having 
drawn much sustenance from that colony, and 
perhaps being somewhat averse to some of its 
laws, did not feel strongly bound to that 
power. Hence, tired of contention and strife, 
and withal, as they say, being convinced of 
the rightfulness of the Dutch claim, they signed 
over, in an agreement written at New Amster- 
dam, of which the following is a translation. 
Doubtless self-interest was looked at as much 
as any thing, and the deed was done with an 
eye to the stronger arm with which the Dutch 
could defend them from the Indians. But 
here is the record : — 

Whereas, we, Capt. Daniel Patrick and Elizabeth 
Feake, duly authorized by her husband ' Robert 
Feake, now sick, have resided two years about five 
or six miles east of the New Netherlands, subject to 
the Lord States General, who have protested against 
us, declaring that the said land lay within their 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 29 

limits, and that they should not allow any person to 
usurp it against their lawful rights ; and whereas, 
we have equally persisted in our course during these 
two years, having been well assured that his Majesty 
the King of England had pretended some to this 
soil ; and whereas, we understand nothing thereof, 
and cannot any longer presume to remain thus, on 
account both of this strife, the danger consequent 
thereon, and these treacherous and villainous Indians, 
of whom we have seen so many sorrowful examples 
enough. We therefore betake ourselves under the 
protection of the ISToble Lord States General, His 
Highness the Prince of Orange, and the West India 
Company, or their Governor General of Kew Ne- 
therlands, promising for the future to be faithful to 
them, as all honest subjects are bound to be ; where- 
unto we bind ourselves by solemn oath and signa- 
ture, provided we be protected against our enemies 
as much'as possible, and enjoy henceforth the same 
privileges that all Patroons of the New Netherlands 
have obtained agreeably to the Freedoms. 1642, 
IXth of April, in Fort Amsterdam. 

DANIEL PATPJCK, 
Witnesses, — Everardus Bogardus, 
Johannes Winkleman. 

Greenwdcli, from that time, became a manor, 
and Capt. Patrick and Peaks were Patroons of 
the Manor, with all the privileges of other 
patroons. The two witnesses to their agree- 



30 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

ment were then residents of tlie Manor ; and it 
was, doubtless, in a great measure owing to 
their influence tliat tlie agreement was ever 
executed. 

TROUBLE WITH THE INDIANS. 

Wm. Keift became the Governor-General 
of the New Netherlands in the year 1638, or 
two years previous to the settlement of Green- 
wich, and four years before the writing was 
signed placing the town under the control of 
that officer. He was the successor of Wouter 
Von Twiller, the fat, good-natured Dutchman, 
who had, by a kind and hospitable manner, in 
a great measure conciliated the fierce Indians 
about the settlements. But with the new 
governor came a change. He was cruel- 
minded and revengeful in the extreme. Hav- 
ing collected some half-a-dozen advisers, all 
congenial spirits, he brought the colony, and 
all connected with it, into the greatest trouble, 
by the extreme severity which he exercised 
toward the natives. So revengeful wa^ he in 
his disposition, that sooner than let a crime go 
unpunished he would take full vengeance upon 
the relatives of the accused, when the criminal 
himself had escaped. 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 31 

The Indians, during their visits to the 
European settlements, after having tasted the 
foreign fire-water, gave full displays of their 
roguish inclinations, and were never scrupulous 
in their bargains, frequently taking goods 
without stopping to pay for them ; and in many 
instances they robbed and murdered the in- 
habitants. Returning to their own country, 
they there, with a feeling of safety, often 
boasted of their deeds in this line. And these 
boasts were duly reported to the governor by 
those straggling settlers who chanced to hear 
them. 

On the other hand, the traders, before bar- 
gaining for furs, so befuddled the owners of 
them as to get valuable articles for little or no 
consideration, and not unfrequently having 
made their victim w^ell drunken, stole his 
richest furs. Such a state of things could but 
create strong feelings of animosity, and ripen 
a spirit of hatred, already arisen, into open 
war, whenever a conspicuous deed committed 
by either party should rouse the anger of the 
other. 

Before the arrival of Keift, and as soon as 
1626, an aged Indian was murdered, and his 
furs stolen, by a company of traders, to whom 



32 HISTORY OF GEEENWICH. 

he liad offered his skins for sale. They secreted 
the body, not observing his little nephew, who, 
hidden amid the bushes, had witnessed in 
silence the horrid deed, and secretly vowed 
eternal vengeance against the murderers of his 
uncle. He was one of the tribe of Weeck- 
quesqueecks, living north of Mamaroneck. 
When a full-grown Indian, still bent on his 
purpose, he watched anxiously the faces of the 
various traders, that he might discern the 
countenances of those upon whom he hoped 
for full vengeance. As a result of his constant 
search he fell in with one whom he recognized 
— one Claes Corneliz Smitz, now become an 
old man. On him he revenged his uncle's 
death by a like punishment, and then fled. 
This was the open act, out of which grew more 
open and extensive hostility. A prompt 
demand was made on his tribe for the mur- 
derer. They replied that he had escaped to 
Sioascock, and that they could not give him 
up. Demand after demand brought but the 
same reply. 

The governor now resolved to punish the 
whole tribe for the crime of the one who had 
escaped. He then appointed the " tivelve men^^'' 
with whom it was left to punish the Indians 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 33 

as they saw fit and proper. After mature 
consideration it was resolved to make two 
distinct expeditions against the Indians ; one 
against the tribe to which the Indian belonged, 
on the east bank of the Hudson, and the other 
against Petuquapaen, whither he was sup- 
posed to have fled. Both these expeditions 
were, however, delayed for a considerable 
time by a difficulty which arose between Keiffc 
and "The Twelve Men." Such was the im- 
patience and haste of the former, that the 
latter refused to comply with all his requisi- 
tions. And the expedition, as then planned 
against Petuquapaen, w^as never carried out 
at all, owing partly to this delay, but more to 
the total want of success which attended the 
other. This, Keift undertook on his own 
authority, and ordered Ensign Van Dyck to 
collect and equip eighty men, and immediately 
proceed against the Indians and inflict upon 
them summary punishment. 

The governor felt sure of complete success, 
as this Hendrick Van Dyck had been in the 
service of the colony for years, and was well 
trained in Indian warfare. To make success 
still more certain, a trusty guide had been 
employed to conduct the party. They moved 



34 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

forward at tlie edge of tlie evening of a dark 
and cloudy night, early in Marcli, 1642. An 
injudicious halt was made by Van Dyck, 
during which the darkness came on so thick 
and fast that the guide was quite unable to 
point out the way. The leader, thus dis- 
appointed, and angry at his own foolishness, 
led his men back to New Amsterdam, dis- 
heartened at not having seen a single enemy. 

Thus both these expeditions failed. 

But another opportunity was soon offered 
to the Dutch to take signal vengeance on their 
enemies. Some traders from Staten Island 
came up the Sound to trade with the Indians, 
and barter rum for furs. Having treated one 
until they had made him well drunken, they 
robbed him of all his furs, and left him in a 
helpless condition. Afterwards, becoming 
sober, and fully aware of the treatment to 
which he had been subjected, the enraged 
Indian swore veno^eance ag^ainst the first 
^'' SwanneMn'''' whom he should meet. And 
true to his oath, he killed one Dutchman and 
an Englishman, whom he chanced to meet 
together. The murderer fled to the Tankitekes, 
a tribe of which Paeham, who was favorable to 
the Dutch, was Sachem. They knew full well 



HIsTORY OF GREENWICH. 35 

that cruel measures were now likely to be 
adopted against them. They therefore ex- 
postulated with the Dutch for selling to their 
people the " cussed firewater ^^'' laying to its 
charge all their troubles, and claiming that 
they had been more wronged than the traders. 
But Keift turned a deaf ear to all their 
entreaties, and was fully bent on their blood- 
shed and destruction. It was but a few days 
after this, in February, 1643, that the power- 
ful tribe of Mohawks came down upon the 
tribes dwelling about New Netherlands in great 
numbers, demanding a tribute, which, being the 
stronger tribe, they were accustomed yearly to 
exact from their weaker neighbors. These 
Indians, now forgetting every thing but their 
intense fear for the dreaded Mohawks, fled in 
hundreds to the settlements of Manhattan for 
protection. They were received with pre- 
tended kindness and hospitality. But with 
fiendish design, Keift secretly planned a strata- 
gem to punish many for the crime of one. The 
settlers, having received them into their in- 
closures^ and having prayed God to favor their 
cruel purpose, commenced a terrible massacre, 
thus graphically described by an eye-witness, 



36 HISTORY OF grp:?:nwich. 

in O'Callaglian's History of tlie New Nether- 
lands : — 

I remained that night at the Director's, and took 
a seat in the kitchen near the fire. At midnight I 
heard loud shrieks, and went out upon the parapet 
of the fort, and looked toward Pavonia. I saw 
nothing but the flashing of guns. I heard no more 
cries of the Indians : they had been butchered in 
their sleep. 

The horrors of this night cause one's flesh to creep, 
when we ponder over them even now, long after 
their occurrence. Eighty Indians were slaughtered 
at Pavonia, and thirty at Corlear's Hook, while 
sunk in repose. Sucklings were torn from their 
mothers' breasts, butchered before their parents' 
eyes, and their mangled limbs thrown quivering into 
the river or the flames. Babes were hacked to 
pieces while fastened on their little boards — their 
primitive cradles ! Others were thrown alive into 
the river, and when parents instinctively rushed in to 
save them, the cruel soldiers prevented their land- 
ing, and both parent and oflspring were sunk into a 
watery grave. Children of half a dozen years, de- 
crepit men of three score and ten, shared like fates. 
Those who escaped and next morning begged for 
shelter, were killed in cold blood, or thrown- into the 
river. Some came running to us from the country, 
having both hands cut off ; some lost both legs and 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 37 

arms ; some were supporting tlieir entrails with their 
hands, while some were mangled in other horrid 
ways, too horrid to be conceived. 

And this massacre was conducted by the 
governor so secretly, and with so much stra- 
tegy, that the Indians for a long time laid the 
cold-blooded deed to the Mohaw^ks. Many of 
the Dutch, even, were so deceived. But after 
some days, during which the Mohaw^ks had 
departed, the truth became evident ; and the 
Indians on tke eastern bank of the Hudson, 
and on both shores of the Sound, rose with 
one accord to demand blood for blood. And 
if ever revenge can be justified, and rightfully 
pursued, surely these poor, hunted Indians 
may be justified in revenging this act, a more 
barbarous one than which was never recorded 
on the pages of history. They made their first 
attacks with such rage and fury, that the 
question of the continuance of the Dutch at 
the mouth of the Hudson was an extremely 
critical one. They were soon forced from Long 
Island, and on the main land all their settlers 
withdrew to the fort on Manhattan Island. 
The few who were in Greenwich also with- 
drew, leaving the English to tak ' care of them- 
selves as best they might. 

3 



38 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

But once more fortune turned against the 
Indians, and they were driven back in turn. 
Reinforcements having arrived from Holland, 
the colony were able not only to defend them- 
selves, but also to drive their enemies far back 
from their settlement. Great numbers of these 
having hitherto lived on the northern coast of 
the Sound, between Greenwich and Manhat- 
tan, now retired to Petuquapaen and Betuck- 
quapock, in Greenwich. Driven here from 
their former homes, they became desperate, 
and gave full vent to their native cruelty. 

Among their acts, which are but very 
vaguely described by history, was the murder 
of the unfortunate Mrs. Anne Hutchinson, and 
her son-in-law, Mr. Collins, with sixteen others 
who lived in the wilderness somewhere in 
Greenwich, near the present boundaries of 
Greenwich and Stamford, by a party of In- 
dians from Petuquapaen. Of this affair, De- 
forest, in his Indians of Connecticut, says, — 

The Indians desolated the Connecticut coast as far 
east as Stamfo^'d, killing not only DutcH, but En- 
glish ; for the English m this quarter were but few 
in number, and had been compelled to submit to the 
government of New Amsterdam. The pretended pro- 
phetess, Anne Hutchinson, who had taken refuge here 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 39 

from her persecutors in Massachusetts, was among 
the victims. Until the last moment, the Indians 
came to the house in their usual friendly manner; 
then the liatchet fell, and the unfortunate woman 
perished, with sixteen others, in the massacre. To 
close the scene, the horses and cattle were driven 
into their harns, the barns set on fire, and the help- 
less animals roasted to death in the flames. 

Nor was Capt. Patrick safe from the attacks 
of the Indians. Mayn Mayano, a tall, stout 
Indian chief of Petuquapaen, sought to distin- 
guish himself by proving untrue the boast of 
the w^liites, that one of them was equal to 
several Indians. In fact, he wanted to reverse 
the statement. Accordingly, CajDt. Patrick 
and two others of the settlers, were attacked 
one day by this single brave. And though 
they were armed, Mayn Mayano had killed 
one and felled the other to the ground with 
his tomahawk, before Patrick, the survivor, 
could shoot him dead. He showed a wily 
courage and daring, although he failed so en- 
tirely of success. 

One other tradition *"' the following, being 
told in many different ways ; of which we ac- 
cept the simplest, as being, probably, the 
nearest to the truth. A rough old Dutchman 
named Cornells Labden, was riding away from 



40 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

the settlement in Old Greenwich on horseback, 
when he discovered that he was pursued by 
three Indians on foot. They could pass more 
nimbly through the forest than he, and unless 
he could free himself by some desperate at- 
tempt, he well knew the destruction that 
awaited him. In this strait he bethought him 
of that steep precipice which still bears the 
name of Labden's Rock, and resolved rather 
to die by plunging down its depths than by 
the torturing hand of the red man. Just as 
his pursuers were about overtaking him, he 
dashed over the steep, and they, too eager on 
their pursuit, went headlong after him. Of 
the whole mass of mangled flesh, Labden only 
lived to tell the story, and that with his two 
legs broken. This Rock still presents much 
of its old appearance, and is visited by many 
of the curious. The story in itself is too sim- 
ple to suit all ; for many love the marvelous. 
For the sake of such, we give a version of this 
very tradition, as it appeared in 1854, in the 
Stamford Advocate^ under the initials of C. 
L. B. "We will not stop to point out the 
glaring inconsistencies, or to ask how, when all 
so fearfully perished, the story became known. 
Here it is in the writer's best style, without 
any further comments of ours : — 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 41 

THE LEGEND. 

BY C. L. B. 

Soon after the settlement of New York by the 
Dutch, a few English families emigrated to the 
eastern part of Greenwich, and began a settlement 
upon an eminence commanding an extensive view 
of Long Island Sound. The names of these families 
are now forgotten, with the exception of that of 
Laddin (?) who, with his wife and daughter, a lovely 
girl of sixteen suinmers^ located himself a short 
distance in an easterly direction from the main 
settlement. The little hamlet for some time con- 
tinued to enjoy the blessings of peace and security, 
but its grateful quietude was soon to be disturbed 
by its hostile neighbors, who were stimulated by the 
Dutch traders to deeds of violence and revenge 
against the English. 

While Laddin (?) was one day occupied in his 
usual occupation of clearing and cultivating his 
farm, he was surprised at discovering the humble 
dwellings of his neighbors enveloped in dense 
clouds of smoke. Knowing full well the merciless 
foes would next proceed to his own cottage, and 
would complete their fiendish work of devastation 
and slaughter, he hurried thither with the utmost 
speed, and prepared to defend it and his family to 
the last extremity. Scarcely had he barricaded the 
doors, and loaded his trusty musket, when the 
savages with their passions whetted by the previous 



42 ^HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

massacre, surrounded the house, yelling terrifically, 
and expecting to witness its speedy ruin with appa- 
rent delight. But, stop ! Laddin stands at the 
window with his trusty weapon ; his resolute deter- 
mination surprises them ; they deliberate for a 
moment, then advances one (?) of the fiercest war- 
riors with lighted torch in hand ; he approaches 
within a few feet of the house, and falls the victim 
of unerring marksmanship ; they are not thus to be 
repulsed and deprived of their satisfaction, at be- 
holding the hated pale faces writhing in the flames. 
At the word of command on steps another (?) and 
rolls back upon his former comrade with a heavy 
groan ; another and another advance and share the 
same fate ; then, with unearthly yells they rush upon 
the house, en masse. They try to break down the 
well-barred doors, hoping to capture and consign the 
poor settlers to a more lingering torture, as vengeance 
for their fallen brethren. 

In this confusion, Laddin's wife and daughter 
begged him to leave them to the mercy of the 
Indians, and secure his own safety ; he steadily re- 
fuses, determined to meet death with them and for 
them ; but by earnest entreaties and solemn assu- 
rances that life without him would be made worse 
than death, he is at length moved to make the at- 
tempt, with faint hopes that the foe would have 
some respect for their sex and spare them. The 
front door begins to open — all rush to enter, and 
thus the back door is left unguarded. Now is the 
time ; the heroic wife and daughter brace the door 



HISTORY OF GEEENWICH. 4:3 

against the savages, while with extreme reluctance, 
the despairing man softly makes his escape in the 
rear. Scarcely has he done this, when the door gives 
way ; his beloved wife and daughter are dragged 
from the house by the hair, tomahawked and 
scalped before his eyes. Assistance to them was 
impossible. He mounts his horse, which he had 
concealed a short distance off, under a thick copse 
of alder bushes. He knows not whither to flee ; 
death is before and behind him ; the savages behold 
him, and pursue- With despair stamped on his 
manly countenance, he suddenly turns his horse's 
head toward the well-known precipice, resolved not 
to fall into the hands of inhuman victors. On came 
his pursuei's, and reached the summit of the barren 
rock, to hear him cry out with a voice of thunder, — 
" Come on, ye foul fiends, I go to join your victims!" 
A crash — and all is hushed. The rider and his faith- 
ful steed shall here mingle their dust together. 

Such is the tradition as increased by a 
fertile imagination. And here we leave him 
to ruralize in some other place, to conjure up 
new ideas for the edification of the people ; 
while we continue our chronicles. 

A IS-EW EXPEDITION. 

These attacks following one another rapidly, 
were duly revealed by Captain Patrick, the 



u 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 



patroon, to Governor Keift ; and lie resolved 
not only to punish those outrages, but if pos- 
sible, to exterminate the whole race. Indeed, 
the actual settlers claimed this, as full protection 
had been promised in the agreement of the 
9th of April, by which the town had been 
ceded to the Dutch. It was supposed that this 
object could be accomplished by a force of 
soldiers acting in unison with the settlers them- 
selves, and that the Indians of Petuquapaen 
would be cut off at a single blow. 

Hence, not far from the 1st of January, 
1644, a privateer, with two smaller vessels, 
having been well armed and fitted out, left New 
Amsterdam with a force of a hundred and 
twenty men. They were under the command 
of Captain Blauvelt, Capt. Joachim Pieterson 
Kuyter, Lieut. Baxter, and Sergeant Peter 
Cock. On Saturday, toward evening, they 
landed on Grreenwich Point (Monakewego). 
And so great was their desire to surprise the 
Indians, and such their haste to consummate 
the object of their expedition, that their com- 
mander thought it advisable to march imme- 
diately against the encampment. Accordingly, 
having received instructions as to their way 
from Capt. Patrick, who for some reason did not 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 45 

accompany tliem, tlie whole body set out. But 
after proceeding some distance, it became evi- 
dent that they had missed their way, and wan- 
dered too far back into the country. Thus they 
wandered about all night, and became wearied 
and dispirited ; and they returned without hav- 
ing found a clue to the object of their search. 
Furthermore, they had doubtless given to the 
scouts of the enemy a knowledge of their ap- 
proach. They encamped next day near the 
house of Capt. John Underbill, highly enraged 
at their want of success. 

On the following day, which was the Sab- 
bath, the Dutch commandant met Capt. 
Patrick at the house of Underhill, and an alter- 
cation ensued. The soldier charged him with 
deceit and treachery; that he purposely misled 
them, and finally called him a liar. To resent 
this the Englishman, who had hitherto re- 
mained silent, spat in the Dutchman's face and 
turning directly back, walked away. The 
other, in turn, drew a pistol and fired a ball 
through his head. For this homicide the sol- 
dier was arraigned, but never punished. And 
thus died Daniel Patrick, the pioneer settler 
of Greenwich. He left a wife and one son. 
The wife's name before marriage was Annetje 
3* 



46 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

Van Beyeren. As her name indicates, slie was 
a Dutcli woman ; and she afterwards married 
one Tobias Feeck, sheriff of Flushing, Long 
Island. 

In a day or two, this company of soldiers 
went off on another wild-goose chase into the 
country ; when they met with but little better 
success than before. True, they fell in with 
a few old men, women, and children, whom 
they mostly killed, saving a few who were 
made slaves. Disappointed and vexed, they 
soon after went back to New Amsterdam. 

After this, John Underhill went to New- 
York, joined the company and was made com- 
mander. Having first led his company against 
the Indians of " Hemestede" on Long Island, 
where the enemies were easily routed, he was 
ordered to Greenwich. Meantime Keift had 
sent scouts, to learn if the Indians were still 
congregated abont Petuquapaen. It was re- 
ported that they were collected there in still 
greater numbers, and that the greater part of 
the women and children had been sent back 
into the country. Underhill was glad to take 
the command of this expedition for two rea- 
sons ; first, because it was necessary for the 
protection and safety of his family, and the 



HISTOEY OF GREENWICH. 4:7 

preservation of his property tliat tlie enemy 
should be dislodged from their stronghold, 
so near his plantation in Greenwich; and 
secondly, that he might prove to the Dutch 
that he was in no way connected with their 
former failure and disgrace. 



THE SUCCESSFUL ATTACK. 

Accordingly, in February of the same year, 
1644, Capt. Underhill and Ensign Van Dyck, 
with a complement of a hundred and thirty 
men, embarked at Fort Amsterdam for Green- 
wich Point. They landed safely, just as a ter- 
rible snow-storm was commencing. The snow 
continued to fall througliout the whole day and 
succeeding night. It had been their design 
to proceed, as in their other expeditions, by 
night, and take their enemies by surprise ; but 
the continuance of the storm prevented the 
accomplishment of their purpose for that night 
at least. But on the following day the storm 
cleared away, leaving between two and three 
feet of snow upon the ground. However, they 
immediately set out for Petuquapaen, advanc- 
ing as fast as the deep snow would permit. As 
had been intended, they reached the Myanos at 



48 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

about eight o'clock. They then halted for two 
hours on the eastern bank of this stream. 
Many had become quite fatigued, and they 
now had ample time for rest. At ten o'clock 
they resumed their march, and descending the 
steep bank, they crossed the river, as they say 
in their own report, where it ^ was about two 
hundred feet wide and three feet deep." And 
as the just-risen moon was brightening the 
white snow with its light, they ascended the 
western bank, and then " passing a steep ridge" 
were afforded a beautiful view of the plain 
below. In the distance, on the other side of 
the plain, they could see the fires in and about 
the village ; while between it and them, the 
trees of the forest had been felled, that the In- 
dian women might raise their only grain, the 
Indian corn. The much-dreaded and long- 
sought-for Petuquapaen is at last found. As 
they advance still nearer with quickened step, 
they discover that the village consists of " more 
than a hundred j)ermanent huts arranged in 
three rows, partially defended by a sort of 
palisades," with many wigwams collected about 
and scattering along under a "high bluff 
sheltering them from the chilling northwest 
winds." 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 49 

The inliabitants were on tlie alert, and "by 
no means unprepared to meet their assailants. 
Their women had been sent back to the old 
fort Betuckquapock, near the present village 
of Dumpling Pond. None but the painted 
braves were left, and they were fully prepared 
for the desperate struggle. They betook them- 
selves to the trees on the slight rise of ground 
now occupied by J. K. Stearns, Esq., on the 
western bank of the Strickland brook. From 
this cover they showered their arrows upon the 
advancing foe. The soldiers then divided into 
two parties, and from different directions poured 
their deadly fire upon the Indians, who, when 
thus attacked, found the trees an insufficient 
protection. The brave Sinawoys fought long 
and desperately ; but the arrow and the toma- 
hawk, of necessity, yielded to the bullet, bayo- 
net, and broadsword. More than once the 
Indians made gallant charges, hoping to break 
the lines of their enemies. But the incessant 
firing thinned their numbers, and they at last 
retired, leaving between one and two hundred 
braves dead on the scene of the first terrible 
struggle. At the more permanent inclosure 
of the village they rallied, hoping there more 
effectually to defend themselves, and resolved 



60 HISTOKT OF GREENWICH. 

there to make their final, desperate struggle for 
victory. Sheltered by the light palisades, if 
so they may be called, they once more poured 
forth incessant flights of arrows upon the Dutch. 
The latter now advanced from the northeast 
and the southeast in two divisions. 

Fire was the enemy of the Indians, as often 
as it was their familiar weapon in destroying 
the habitations of the whites. And Under- 
hill had learned its utility by his experience 
at the celebrated Pequot fort. To cast a fire- 
brand upon the row of dry bark huts and wig- 
wams, was but the work of a moment ; and a 
most terrible destruction now awaited them. 
Roasted and tortured to agony by the fire, they 
darted out here and there from the flames only 
to be brought to the ground by the unerring 
aim of the soldiery, who were on the alert for 
the poor victims. Finally their horrid moans 
and cries were hushed, and the flames and the 
hissing of the boiling pools of blood died away, 
leaving hundreds of crisped bodies on the 
blood-stained snow. 

And thus miserably perished from six hun- 
dred to a thousand Sinawoy Indians, variously 
enumerated by different authors. And of the 
whole number of warriors that had been 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 51 

gathered at tlie ancient village, only eiglit 
escaped. All, besides these and twelve who 
were taken prisoners at the first conflict on the 
knol], were cut off in battle. These prisoners 
were sold as slaves, some to the English and 
some to the Dutch ; for prisoners were then the 
spoils of war. 

So quickly had this work of destruction been 
aScomplished, that the night was yet far from 
being spent. The Dutch therefore, warmed 
and cheered by the fires that had scorched and 
crisped their enemies, spent the remainder of 
the night upon the field ; and when the morn- 
ing came and the sun had arisen and looked 
upon the work of the preceding night, they 
threw the dead bodies of the Indians into 
heaps and covered them with the ashes of their 
village and frozen earth and snow, and left 
them without farther monument. Yet the 
mounds thus formed bore testimony to the 
place of the battle for many years. Tradition 
has long pointed out with accuracy the place 
of these mounds. An aged lady, Mrs. Howe 
by name, who lived to the advanced age of a 
hundred and two years, and who died some 
forty years since, remembered these mounds 
distinctly. Five of them she said were between 



52 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

the present houses of J. K. Stearns, Esq., and 
Mrs. Hitchcock, and twenty were scattered 
about just across the lane southeast of the 
present residence of William White, Esq., on 
the land of Edward Mead. And some fifty 
years, or more, ago, Joseph Sackett, who lived 
close by, was digging with one of his men for 
the purpose of covering potatoes from the cold 
of winter, — which was then done by digging 
four or ^ve feet in the ground, — and came upon 
one of these settled heaps, then mostly turned 
to dust. But the good old farmer turned to 
his man, whose name was Avery, and told him 
to " throw in the potatoes any way^"* for the 
bones couldn't hurt them if they were " Injins ;" 
and in they went, and I believe were kept safe 
just as the old man had said. Bushels of flint 
arrow-heads have been plowed up by the 
owners of land on all parts of Strickland's 
plain. Some of them are beautifully cut from 
the finest white flint ; but the greater part of 
them are rougher hewn, from blue flint. Their 
old burial place as yet is not all extinct ; but 
what remains is but a monument of the care- 
lessness of the people of the neighborhood. 
Not only is the place neglected, but absolutely 
is being demolished by the penny grinders 



HISTORY OF GEEENWICH. 63 

who want dirt to fill in docks, or for some otlier 
purpose. It sLiould have been fenced long ago, 
and protected from men who will take dirt 
from dead men's bones. 

This battle is equal to any ever fought in 
Connecticut in the numbers of those engaged 
in fight, in the fierceness of the contest, and in 
the carnage and destruction made. And the 
Indians in this part of the country never 
recovered from the blow. True, a few desper- 
ate ones hung about the settlements seeking 
revenge ; but they soon melted away, and their 
few descendants had none of their fathers' 
ambition. Now none are to be seen. The 
proud, civilized, and enlightened European has 
driven the aborigines from the lands which 
were theirs by discovery, inheritance, and 
actual occupation. And now it is too late to 
repair the injury. 

Proud of their victory, the soldiers on the 
next day after the battle began their return 
march, ^''iJie Lord enduing the wounded with 
extraordinary strength^ Great was the re- 
joicing at New Amsterdam when the result of 
the expedition was known. Public thanks- 
giving was ordered by the Dutch authorities ; 
and it is said by O'Callaghan in his History of 
New Netherlands to have been regarded as a 



54 HISTOKY OF GREENWICH. 

special Providence tliat when tlie attack was 
made on Petuquapaen " the Lord had collected 
most of their enemies there to celebrate some 
peculiar festival^ But the results of the war 
were most favorable to the settlers themselves. 
What few Indians were left lived peaceably, 
and brought rich furs to the whites in trade 
for rum. This trade yielded of course a double 
traffic to the whites, while it cheated and 
wronged the aborigines. 

Underhill, the hero of the battle, on returning 
to New Amsterdam, took with him Elizabeth 
Peaks, the widow of Robert Peaks, and married 
her, each thus entering upon matrimony for 
the second time. In the same year he settled 
in Plushing, L. I. Again he moved to Killing- 
worth, Ct., where he died in 1672. He was 
artful and intriguing, and he had changed his 
name before taking the command of the Dutch 
forces to Hans Van Vanderhill. His son, 
Nathaniel, emigrated from Killingworth to 
"Westchester county in 1685. 



BOUNDARY ON THE WEST. 

The boundary line on the southwestern part 
of Connecticut has been frequently changed ; 
and probably we can do no better than give an 



HISTOEY OF GREENWICH. 65 

account of tlie various changes here, althougli 
we may be obliged to anticipate somewhat the 
events of the history. As has been before said, 
Patrick and Feaks bought under the ISTew 
Haven Colony in 1640 ; but they also, in 1642, 
made over the town to the Dutch, they both 
becoming patroons of the manor. This left the 
western boundary of Connecticut to be the 
Potommuck river, that is, the present boundary 
line between Stamford and Greenwich. 

But a treaty was made in Hartford in 1650, 
making the boundary line as follows : to com- 
mence on Long Island ''on the westernmost 
part of Oyster bay, so, and in a straight and 
direct line to the sea ; and upon the main land 
a line to beo:in on the west side of Greenwich 
bay (i. e. all that bay within Capt's I.) and so 
run in a northerly line twenty miles up into 
the country, and after as it shall be agreed by 
the two governments of the Dutch and New 
Haven, provided said line come not within ten 
miles of the . Hudson river." (Hazard's State 
Papers, voL ii., p. 218.) 

This boundary was made without the parti- 
cipation of the inhabitants of Greenwich. 
Accordingly, some of the spirited ones con- 
tinued on under their old customs and habits 



56 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

and laws, and regardless of tliose of Connecti- 
cut. On the eastern bank of the Armonck 
(Byram) river there was a little trading ham- 
let at which the Indians, those which were left 
of the once powerful tribe, used to purchase 
their firewate/i\ Hence the place was called, 
as it is properly spelled. By-rum, And during 
the year 1656, "from representations previous- 
ly made at New Haven that the people of 
Greenwich lived in a disorderly and riotous 
manner, sold intoxicating liquors to the Indians, 
received and Jiarhored servants who liad fled 
from their masters^ and joined persons unlaw- 
fully in marriage^'' the General Court of that 
colony resolved to assert their jurisdiction over 
the town and bring its citizens to a more 
orderly manner of demeaning themselves. In 
May, the General Court sent a letter, calling 
upon those living in Greenwich to submit to 
its authority. They returned an answer couch- 
ed in very spirited language, declaring that 
New Haven had no right to set up such a 
claim, and that they would never submit to its 
authority unless compelled to do so by Parlia- 
ment. But when the spirits of such men as 
Eaton and Davenport pervade a body, it is not 
easily driven from any position that has been 



HISTORY OF GKEEJSWICH. 57 

deliberately taken. The General Court passed 
a resolve that unless the recusants should 
appear in open court and make a formal sub- 
mission by the 25th of June, Richard Crab and 
some others who were most stubborn in their 
opposition should be arrested and punished 
according to law. This had the effect intend- 
ed ; Crab and others who had been ready for 
martyrdom, yielded with as good grace as they 
could. This Crab will be mentioned hereafter, 
and was a large landholder in town. (Colo- 
nial Records and Hollister's History of Con- 
necticut.) 

This settled the matter for a time. But 
when, in 1664, the Dutch surrendered to Col. 
Richard Mcolls, the Duke of York's Governor, 
the three Commissioners appointed to settle 
the boundary line between the Duke of York's 
patent and the colony of Connecticut decided 

That the creek or river called Mamaronec, which 
is reported to be about twelve miles east of West- 
chester, and a line drawn from ye east point or side, 
where the fresh water falls into the salt, at high 
water mark, north-northwest to ye line of Massachu- 
setts, shall be ye western bounds of ye said Colony 

of Connecticut. 

RICHARD NICOLLS, 

GEORGE CARTRIGHT, 

SAMUEL MAURICKE. 



^'8 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

Again on the 28tli of January, 1673, 

The General Court ordered the bounds between 
Greenwich and Rye to be from the mouth of the 
Byram river, to run up the one quarter of a mile 
above the great stone, lying on the cross-path, by 
the sayd commons, upwards, between Stamford 
bounds and the colony line, is to be equally divided 
between them by a parallel line, with Stamford and 
Norwalk to the end of their bounds, up in the 
country. 

ROBERT TREAT, 

JONATHAN SELLICKE, 
PETER DISBROW. 

The town of Rye thus remained a part of 
Connecticut until December 8d, 1683. But at 
that date we find from Gov. Treat, of Con- 
necticut, a letter formally bidding good-by 
to those living west of the Armonck or Byram, 
and making them over to the New York Gov- 
ernor, Dougan. In 1696-97, Rye and Bed- 
ford were again received into Connecticut. 
And the western boundary was never finally 
fixed until May the 14th, 1731, ^hen the 
present one was agreed upon. Greenwich, 
however, since 1650, has formed a permanent 
part of Connecticut. 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. . 59 

INCREASE OF INHABITANTS, ETC., 

1645-1665. 

A blight seems to have fallen upon the little 
settlement during the five or ten years follow- 
ing the summary destruction of the Indians on 
the plain. In general, the Indians had never 
shown so great animosity to the English as to 
the Dutch settlers. And it was for this reason 
that Capt Patrick refused to lead the Dutch 
in their first expedition, and that the greater 
part of the English settlers had not offered 
their services in the more successful one. And 
being now fully under the dominion of the 
governor of the New Netherlands, few addi- 
tions were made from honest Englishmen. 
Still, they remained at their post, buying from 
the Indians all the land they could afford, and 
without hindrance or molestation they attended 
to the usual avocations of early settlers. But 
after 1656, when Connecticut had forced Crab 
and his adherents to submit to her authority, 
the prospects of the settlement brightened. 
Crab or Crabbe, before coming to Greenwich, 
had been a member of the first Assembly of 
Connecticut, which was held in Hartford in 
1639. Previously, he had bought large tracts 



60 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

of land of the Indians in many places, and 
sold it again in smaller parcels to tlie new set- 
tlers. In 1656, he sold portions of his estate to 
the ancestors of the Studwells, the Hobbys, 
and the Hubbards. Peter Disbrow and John 
Coe, who, with Thomas Studwell, afterwards 
bought the greater part of the town of Rye, 
settled here at about the same time. Jeffere 
Ferris returned from Fairfield, where he had 
gone upon the ceding of Greenwich to the 
Dutch. Others came, many of them from 
Long Island, when that was given over to the 
authority of the Duke of York. Among 
them were John Mead and John Hobby or 
Hubbe. The deed under which John Mead 
first held lands is given on the town records 
as follows : — 



These presents witnesseth an agreement made be- 
twene Richard Crab, of Greenwich, on ye one side, 
and John Mead, of Heamstead, on Long Iseland, on 
ye other side, viz. ; ye said Richard Crab hath sould 
unto ye sd John Mead all his houses and lands, yt 
Bd Richard Crab hath in Greenwich with all ye 
Apurtenances, Rights & privileges, & conveniences, 
yt Doth belong unto ye sd houses & lands, or shall 
here after belong unto them, viz: ye house yt 
Richard Crab liveth in, ye house yt Thomas Stud- 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 61 

well liveth in, with ye Barne yt is on ye otlier side 
of ye hye waye ; also ye home lott yt ye house stands 
on, being bounded with a fence lying about them 
on ye northwest, against ye houselott ; also eightene 
Acres of land in Elisabeth neck, more or less, being 
bounded by ye sea on ye east and southeast, and a 
fence on. ye west, northwest, and ye north. 

Also ye Rig, with 5 acres of Meadow lying in it, 
more or less ; ye rig being bounded by ye sea on ye 
southeast, william low on ye east, and ye fence on 
ye northwest, & north ye hye waye & hethcut'a 
(Heathcote) & angell Ileusteds on ye west; also 3 
acres of meadow in ye long meadow, & 1 acre of 
meadow by Ferris, bounded by Jeffere Ferris land 
on ye southeast, and ye cove on ye west and north- 
west ; also 5 acres of meadow in myanos neck, all 
ye above specified I do hereby acknowledge to have 
sould unto ye above sd John Mead, his heaires and 
asignes, fully and freely to be possest forever, and 
for ye quiet and full performance liereof, I have 
hereunto subscribed my hand, anno 1660, October, 
26 Daye. 

RICHARD CRAB. 

Adam Mott, ) ^,^.^ 

^ .rrr > VVitnesses. 

RoBT. Williams, j 

The John Mead above referred to is not the 

oldest John, but his son ; which latter having 

himself a son John always went, as we too 

shall call him, by the name of John Mead, 

4 



62 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

senior. The first Jolin had become an old 
man, and all the purchases and other business 
was done in the name of his son. Joseph 
Mead, his only other child, is reported by tra- 
dition to have died young, although it is not 
improbable that he may have removed to New 
Jersey or elsewhere, and become the ancestor 
of another branch of the family. The brother 
who remained here married a Miss Potter, 
whose father afterwards owned Shippan Point 
at Stamford ; and through her he afterward 
received a considerable amount of property. 
John — and many of his tliousand and one de- 
scendants take greatly after him — was a queer 
fellow, though honest and charitable. The 
following anecdote, which has been preserved 
}>y tradition, shows his character. One day 
when he had become quite an old man, as he 
was going for his grist on horseback to the 
mill at Dumpling pond, before he reached the 
Myanos, he overtook an old Quaker jogging 
slowly along, loaded with a heavy budget. In 
a real spirit of kindness, he offered to take the 
Quaker's load upon his horse and' thus give 
him a lift on his journey. "JSTo," replied the 
Quaker, " thee don't get my bundle, for I can 
read men's thoughts. Thee wants to get my 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 63 

bundle, and then thee'll run off. Thee don't 
get my bundle." " Very well," was the sim- 
ple reply, and so they went slowly on together. 
At last they came to the brink of the Myanos. 
Here Mr. Quaker was really in trouble. How 
to cross a river, two or three feet deep, dry 
shod was quite a puzzle. But he gladly ac- 
cepted a second offer of assistance from the 
horseman. The bundle was mounted in front, 
John in the middle and the Quaker behind. 
Arrived at the centre of the stream, in pre- 
tending to adjust his stirrup, John Mead 
caught the Quaker by the heel and gave him 
a gratuitous bath. Such treatment was too 
much for even Quaker forbearance, and the 
victim with his hands full of pebbles would 
have taken summary vengeance, had not the 
other party threatened to put the bundle under 
a similar course of treatment. This threat 
and the lecture following it gradually cooled 
off the fellow's anger. Mead informed him 
that all had been done for his good, to learn 
him a lesson. And the lecturer said he hoped 
the stranger would never again profess to read 
men's thoughts. " For," said he, " I asked you 
to ride, kindly, in the first place, when you 
refused ; but at the second time of asking, I 



^4 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

really intended to do as I have just done." So 
saying, and tossing back the bundle, he rode 
on, leaving his companion to apply the moral 
as he thought proper. 

As early as this date (1660), the settlers 
felt the want of a minister ; and, although not 
numbering perhaps more than twenty adult 
male settlers, annually subscribed, or rather 
taxed themselves, for preaching during a por- 
tion of the year ; as did also Rye, which was at 
this time included in Connecticut. But no 
church was formed or pastor ordained. Dr. 
Trumbull says, " Greenwich and Rye were but 
just come under the jurisdiction of Connecti- 
cut, and not in circumstances for the support 
of ministers ; they had only occasional preach- 
ing for a considerable time." 

Several settlers, though liviiig here about 
this time made large purchases in the town- 
ships of Rye, Northcastle, Harrison, Bedford, 
and even as far off as Westchester. Hence 
we often see the names of John Coe, Thomas 
Stud well, Peter Disbrow, Thomas Lyon, and a 
number of others, figuring extensively upon 
the records of those towns. 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 65 

ITEMS FROM 1665 TO 1690. 

A few years must now be passed over witli 
but slight notice ; as the town records of that 
period, from which we gain the most of our 
information, are remarkably barren. Never- 
theless the little settlement increased greatly, 
both in wealth and population. As has been 
said, meetings were held regularly on the Sab- 
bath, though but a part of the time attended 
by preaching. In 1666 a school-house was 
established. Mention of the school-house is 
made, but we have no means of learning its 
situation, or the name of the teacher. He, 
no doubt, was revered more than most modern 
pedagogues, since there was no minister, and 
the largest landholder (John Mead) wrote 
his name with a " his mark." At any rate 
the school, thus early established, shows that 
Grreenwich, then as well as now, properly 
valued the advantages of education. 

In the year 1669, Daniel Patrick, the only 
son of the original settler by that name, came 
hither from Flushing, L. I., and opposed the 
doctrine of " squatter sovereignty!!^ by asserting 
his claim to all the land which his father had 
owned here, but which was now passed into dif- 



^ 



66 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

ferent hands. But as young Patrick, like his 
father, was of a roving disposition, a compro- 
mise was easily effected, and " all his right, 
title, and interest in any land or estate in the 
settlement," were bought with a horse, saddle 
and bridle, and fifty pounds ; with all which he 
left for parts unknown. 

The actual settlement, as we have said, was 
made east of the Myanos river ; but about the 
year 1672, a number of persons, mostly living 
in town, though some, as Rev. Jeremiah Peck, 
were even from other colonies than Connecti- 
cut, purchased Miosehasseky from the few In- 
dians yet living about the western part of the 
town. These purchasers were twenty-seven 
in number, and styled the "27 Proprietors of 
1672." Their names are, we believe, nearly 
all preserved in the town, and we give them 
as we accidentally found them on a stray leaf 
of the well-worn records : — 

27 Proprietors of 1672. 

Ephraim Palmer, Samuel Peek, 

Jonathan Reynolds, or Joseph Seres, t 

Renolds, Angell Heusted, 

John Ilnbbe (Hobby), William Hubbard, 

Stephen Sherwood, Samuel Ginkins (Jenkins), 

Joseph Mead, William Ratere, 



HI6T0RY OF GREENWICH. 



67 



Jolm Bowers, Jolin Marsliall, 

Joseph Finch, Jonathan Lockwood, 
William Kundle, - John Renalds, 

^John Mead, Gershom Lockwood, 

John Asten, James Seres, 

Jeremiah Peck, Thomas Close, 

John Palmer, Thomas Close, Jun., 

Walter Butler, Daniel Smith. 

Tliese kept separate records of their own, 
and West Greenwich (by them called Horse- 
neck), was entirely under their control. 

In 1676, the people began, more than pre- 
viously, it is said, to feel the need of ha\dng 
the Gospel preached more regularly upon the 
Sabbath. Accordingly, at a full meeting of 
the voters of the town, it was resolved to in- 
vite some " suitable minister" to come and live 
among them. Inquiries were immediately 
made for some proper man, and upon the 
recommendation of a certain Mr. Bishop, an 
invitation was extended to the Rev. Mr. Wiz- 
wale. For some reason, this call was never ac- 
cepted ; and the town was two years longer 
without a pastor. But, in 1678, an invitation 
was given to the Eev. Jeremiah Peck, of Eliza- 
bethtown, N. J. He was one of the proprie- 
tors of the large tract of land on which Eliza- 
bethtown is built ; and it was no small recom- 



68 IIISTOHy OF GREENWICH. 

mendation of the man tliat lie was one of the 
" 27 Proprietors of 1672" at Horseneck. This 
invitation was almost immediately accepted ; 
and in the fall of the same year Mr. Peck 
settled in Greenwich, and became the pro- 
genitor of the numerous Pecks still to be found 
in Greenwich. The first salary paid to Mr. 
Peck was fifty 'pounds with fi/t'ewood^ or sixty 
witliout. He chose the latter. 

In 1679, Thomas Close sold his land, lying 
on both sides of the Myanos, which was a very 
large tract, and purchased other land in the 
southeastern part of the town. The house or 
a portion of the house in which he lived a hun- 
dred and sixty years ago, is claimed to be still 
standing, half a mile southeast of the present 
borough of Greenwich. 

In 1681, took place the earliest marriage 
that is recorded, although others must have 
preceded it, by the Rev. Jeremiah Peck, — John 
Mead, jun., to Miss Euth Hardey. 

About the same time, John Banks and 
Thomas Lyon received a large grant of land. 
The whole tract consisted of four himdred 
acres, and was situated in the angle made by 
the Armonck or Byram river and the West- 
chester path. 

1684. Mr. Peck still continues to preach, 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 69 

and for tlie same salary. In February of this 
year they granted him a right to build him a 
house anywhere north of the Westchester 
path, and west of the Myanos river. The 
meeting-house, however, was not far from the 
head of the cove ; and why he wanted a house 
so far from his church we are at a loss to con- 
jecture. Still, as he obtained the grant, we 
trust he made good use of it. 

Up to 1685, Lieut. Lockwood had been the 
leading and influential man in the town. This 
year he died, and the people met in town's 
meeting and passed resolutions deploring the 
loss of so valuable a citizen. A saAv and grist 
mill was put up at Dumpling Pond. An old 
mill building still marks the site, and doubt- 
less contains some of the same timber. 

In 1686 the town voted that all the land 
lying in commons and belonging to the town 
should be divided, and whoever should take 
his share of the same should pay therefor six- 
pence per acre. It was also voted that a line 
of fence should be built on the front of this 
land, along the Westchester path from the 
Myanos to the Byram river. Each owner was 
to put up that part of the fence before his 
own land, and have it completed by the 1st 
of April thereafter ; and for every rod un- 



70 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

finislied by tliat time was to pay a fine of six- 
pence. During tlie year another grant was 
made to Rev. Mr. Peck, of the use of certain 
land as ^parsonage land for tliree years ; being 
the first record of any grant of the kind in the 
town. 

1687. During this year, permission was 
given to the citizens of the town to build fish- 
pounds on the sea-shore " anywhere outside ye 
feelds." John Mead, jun. was elected constable, 
then the most remunerative as well as im- 
portant office in the gift of the town. Gershom 
and his brother William Lockwood, during 
this year, agreed to build a bridge across the 
Myanos at Dumpling Pond, and receive in 
payment " wliatever the town sliould see fit to 
give after the worlc was doneP A good way 
to insure good workmanship^, and at the present 
day most builders would shrink from such a 
test. The building used for church and town- 
meetings was repaired, but to what extent 
does not appear. 

The number of legal voters in town now 
amounted to about fifty, and the number of 
inhabitants probably exceeded three hundred. 
We find the following list of legal voters re- 
corded in 1688, which may not now prove 
uninteresting to readers : — 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 



71 



Jonathan Lockwood, 
Angell Hiisted, 
Joseph Mead, 
John Mead, 
Joseph Ferris, 
John Renalds, 
John Hub be, 
Meriam Hubert, 
Jeames Ferris, 
Jonathan Ren aids, 
John Bowers, 
Joseph Finch, 
Meriam Hubert, Jun. 
Thomas Lyon, 
John Banks, 
Thomas Close, 
Frances Thorn e, 
Nathaniel Howe, 
Joseph Palmer, 
William Bundle, 
Gershom Lockwood, 
John Marshall, 
Daniel Smith, 
Jonathan Huested, 
Ebenezer Mead, 

John 



Ephriam Palmer, 

Jeames Palmer, 

Walter Butler, 

Samuel Peck, 

Rev. Jeremiah Peck, 

John Mead, Jun., 

Henere Rich, 

Jonathan Mead, 

Joshua Knapp, 

George Hubbert, 

Joseph Huested, 

Angell Husted, Jun., 
, John Renalds, Jun., 

Peter Ferris, 

Thomas Hubbe, 

John Hubbe, Jun., 

Job Ferris, 

Jonathan Lockwood, 

Robert Lockwood, 

Caleb Peck, 

Joseph Mead, John Mead's 
Son, 

Joseph Mead, Joseph 
Mead's Son. 

Joseph Knapp, Jun. 
Tash. 



It will be noticed that the names then 
written Heusted, are now written Husted • 
Hubbe, Hobby ; Renalds, Reynolds ; Hub- 



13 HLSTOKY OF GREENWICH. 

bert, Hubbart, &c. The name of Tasb is, I 
believe, the only one now unrepresented in 
town. He was a shepherd, employed by the 
"Twenty-seven Proprietors" to watch their 
herds on their commons. This fact proves 
that Greenwich is indeed a portion of the land 
of steady habits, and that her sons are great 
lovers of home. 

A little previous to this time, about 1686, 
the Indians sold their almost last acre of ground 
in the town. These lands were at the mouth 
of the Myanos, on its western bank, and are 
now in the possession of Capt. Noah Mead, 
who still possesses the veritable deed. 

A controversy arose in 1688 upon the sub- 
ject of infant baptism. Mr. Peck refused to 
baptize the children of non-professors, and for 
the time was supported by a majority of the 
members of the church. He claimed to be 
unable to find any command enjoining such a 
practice, and said we were constantly breaking 
too many direct commands, whilst rigorously 
obeying supposed but doubtful ones. The 
question coming before the town meeting, 
resulted as follows : — 

At a towne meeting, may 21st, ye major part of 
ye towne did pr vote Desire mr. Jeremiah Peck's 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 73 

continuance, & going on in ye work of ye ministrye 

— amoungst us. 

Protest. 

We John Mead, Sen., & Jun., Thomas Close, 
John Hubbe, Sen., Jonathan Huested, do enter our 
protest against ye above sd Kendering this our rea- 
son, yt as is followeth, that this caule is not accord- 
ing to ye rules of ye gospel Mr. Jeremiah Peck 
refusing to baptise our children. 

ye above sd John Mead Sen reasons are 

because sd Jeremiah Peck hath Given him John 
Mead offence. 

It is to be feared that few of even church 
members are as honest as said John Mead, 
sen., in giving their reasons for opposing their 
ministers. 

In accordance with " this caule," Mr. Peck 
continued to preach during the year. But 
when that time had rolled around, there were 
so many to whom he had "given offence," 
that he was not again asked to continue, and 
was dismissed in 1689, after having preached 
here eleven years. Afterwards, he removed 
to Waterbury in this State, with all his family 
excepting Samuel and Caleb. 

Furthermore it is recorded that " ye towne 
per vote Jiatlie agreed to hye a hulleP 



74 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

ANOTHER QUAETER OF A CENTURY, 
1690 TO 1715. 

Nothing of importance is recorded in 1690. 
Feeling the want of a minister, the town ap- 
pointed a committee to procure one. John 
Mead was appointed town brander, to keep a 
record of the brands or marks of cattle and 
slaves. 

In 1691, Mr. Abraham Pierson, having re- 
ceived a call from the committee appointed 
during the preceding year, agreed to supply 
the pulpit for a time, but refused to become 
a settled pastor. He came here from New 
Jersey, where he had settled soon after his 
graduation at Cambridge in 1668. He had 
there been successful and popular as a preacher, 
and was dismissed after a pastoral labor of 
more than twenty years. He accepted, dur- 
ing the first year, of the same salary as had 
been paid to Mr. Peck, choosing as did his 
predecessor the sixty pounds without the fire- 
wood, in preference to fifty pounds with. 
Before this year no record is made of a tax 
having been made, so lax were the records 
kept. They now sj)eak of the tax of a " penny 
on the pound." 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 



75 



It was also voted to have a new meeting- 
house ; and John Mead, sen. and John Mead, 
jun., John Hubbe, Daniel Smith, and Samuel 
Peck, were appointed a committee to procure 
materials and build the house. A subsequent 
meeting made its dimensions thirty-two feet 
long, twenty-six feet wide, and fifteen feet 
high. A controversy which lasted for years 
concerning the site, delayed the putting up of 
the building. It was finally built upon a 
small rise of ground, northwest of the old 
burying-ground in Old Greenwich, where now 
stands a small dwelling-house. 

1692. No records of importance. 

1693. The death of John Mead, jun., the 
acting constable, was lamented by the people. 
They called an extra town-meeting, and passed 
resolutions deploring the loss of so estimable 
an officer. He was the grandson of the first 
settler, and left three children. 

1694. Mr. Pierson, having now preached 
in the church, as indefinite supply, for three 
years, left and settled in Killing worth in this 
State. He afterwards was the most zealous of 
all the ministers in founding Yale College at 
Saybrook, and was elected its first rector or 
president. Dr. Trumbull says of him, "At 



76 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

his death his loss was deeply felt, and the 
friends of the College deeply lamented it." 

1695. Although frequent mention has been 
hitherto made in the records, of a school, we 
have now for the first time the name of so 
important a personage as the schoolmaster. 
He rejoiced in the name of Thomas Preut. 
The school-committee were Jonathan E-enalds, 
Joseph Finch, and William Rundle. It was 
voted that no person should be obliged to 
help support the school who sent no children. 
The committee were a security for the pay- 
ment of the schoolmaster's wages. A com- 
mittee was also appointed " to counte ye clab- 
bords and ye shingles to tell how many each 
peticular individual should bring toward ye 
new meeting-house." A horse-bridge was 
built by Jonathan Whelpley over the Myanos, 
according to a vote of town. In payment, he 
was to receive from each voter, ''one bushel 
of good marchean table corn." He was also 
to have the use of a horse and team of oxen 
until the brida:e was finished, which was to be 
during the next summer. " The bridge to be 
wide enough for a horse with two bushels of 
corn on his back to pass without danger of 
hitting the rails." 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 77 

The committee wMcli was appointed, after 
tlie departure of Mr. Pierson, to procure 
another minister, soon extended a call to the 
Rev. Salmon Treat, " to come and settle among 
them, and preach upon the Sabbath." He 
came here, but like Mr. Pierson acted only 
as stated supply. His reason for this was the 
unsettled and divided state of the church, 
which arose concerning the site of the new 
church. During his first year, he received a 
salary of ''fifty-five pounds with firewood" 
or five pounds more than had been before 
paid. And as an inducement to a more per- 
manent settlement, it was soon after increased 
to sixty pounds. But the inducement proved 
insufiSicient. 

Below we have copied the town-list for the 
years 1694 and 1695, which shows the com- 
parative wealth of the town at that date. It 
runs as follows : — 

John Bundle, . . £102 10 

Samuel Peck, . . 81 

Joseph Ferris, . . 151 

James Ferris and Son, . 103 

Robert Lockwood, . . 61 

Jonathan Heusted, . 77 

Joseph Finch and Son, . 105 ) - 



78 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 



John Hobby, 
Angell Hensted and Son, 
John Heusted, 
Samuel Heusted, 
Moses Ferris, 
Benjamin Ferris, 
Gershom Lockwood & Son, 
Joseph Knapp, 
Jonathan Rundle, 
Benjamin Mead, 
Daniel Smith & Son, 
William Rundle, 
William Hubbart, 
Ruth Mead, widow of 

Mead, 
Daniel Mead, 
Zachariah Mead, . 
Caleb Knapp, 
Thomas Marshall, 
Ebenezer Mead, 
Joseph Mead, the tanner, 
Jonathan Wbelplej, . 
John Marshall & Son, 
Henry Rich, . 
John Ferris, 
Joseph Palmer, 
Jonathan Mead, . 
John Marshall, Jun., 
John Rundle & Son, 
Nathaniel Mead, 
Timothy Knapp, . 



£94: 15 





. 33 


10 





30 








. 45 


10 





22 








. 24 








n, 153 


15 





. 73 








47 


6 





. 87 








161 








. 60 


10 





40 


10 





John 






22 


10 





. 42 








30 








. 39 


10 





34 








. 103 


10 





45 


10 





. 45 








165 


10 





. 39 


10 





55 








. 38 


12 





45 


'0 





. 69 








43 


14 





. 30 








47 


6 






HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 



79 



John Austen, 

Joseph Finch, Jun., 

Caleb Peck, . 

Thomas Close, Jun., 

Joseph Heusted, 

Thomas Hobbj, . 

Ebenezer Rundle, 

Stephen Holmes, . 

Thomas Close, Sen., . 

Angell Husted, Jun., 

Elisha Mead, 

Thomas Stud well, 

William Palmer, 

John Pundle, Jun., 

James Ferris, Jun., . 

Thomas Butler, 

Gershom Lock wood, Jun., 

Joseph Lockwood, 

Benjamin Knapp, 

Benjamin Hobby, 

Joshua Knapp, 

Samuel Mead, 

Joseph Studwell, 

John Banks, 

Samuel Lyon, 

Thomas Lyon, 

Joseph Mead, not the tanner. 

Joseph Close, 



£31 

29 

28 
- 26 

54 

54 10 

30 

31 5 
80 
41 

38 

30 

39 
51 5 

40 10 
21 
47 
25 

31 

29 
54 

87 10 
18 
76 10 

88 10 
57 12 
25 
24 



Total, 



£2638 8 



80 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

1696. By this time so great a number had 
removed from Old Greenwich to Horseneck, 
that Mr. Treat preached at the latter place 
one Sabbath out of three. He was again in- 
vited by a unanimous vote of the town to 
settle permanently; but he declined as firmly 
as before. 

According to the custom of several towns 
in this vicinity, a bounty had hitherto been 
granted, per head, to those killing wolves and 
bears; but it was now found that Indians and 
others went way back into the country, and 
took many of these animals which could do 
no harm to the people living in this town, 
and created a continual drain upon the town 
treasury. It was therefore voted to discon- 
tinue a practice which, while it did no good, 
was periodically filling the town with a set of 
drunken Indians and lazy white men. The 
bounty was then allowed only to the white 
citizens of the town. 

Ebenezer Mead was appointed by the town 
to keep "a place of publick entertainment for 
man and beast." John Finch, a mariner, ob- 
tained permission from the town to build a 
warehouse and dock at the mouth of Pato- 
muck brook, on Elizabeth Neck. The select- 



BISTORT OF GREENWICH. 81 

men or townsmen for this year were, Daniel 
Smith, Jonathan Heusted, Joseph Finch, and 
John Hubbe. 

1697. The Rev. Mr. Treat having received 
a call to Preston, New London county, and 
accepted it, went away, leaving the town 
again without a minister. Through a com- 
mittee of the town, invitations to settle were 
addressed to several ministers. A Mr. Joseph 
Morgan accepted the call, came to Greenwich 
in the latter part of the year, and immediately 
commenced his labors. His salary was sixty 
pounds beside firewood. It was increased in 
sixteen hundred and ninety-eight, to sixty- 
five pounds. He then preached one half the 
time at Old Greenwich and the other half at 
Horseneck, there being a gradual moving on 
the part of some of the inhabitants toward 
the latter place. The selectmen for 1698, 
were John Hobby, Timothy Knapp, and 
Jonathan Heusted. 

1699. Mr. Morgan still pastor. But his 
popularity with a part of the town was wan- 
ing. A sectional dispute had arisen between 
the people of Old Greenwich and those of 
Horseneck, and Mr. Morgan took sides with 
the latter. The difficulty arose simply on the 



82 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

question of how mucli time should be devoted 
to the Horseneck people by the minister; 
they claiming one half and their brethren 
being only willing for them to have one third. 
The Horseneck people obtained the sympathy 
of their minister, while he lost the favor of 
the people on the other side of the river. 
The latter turned their anger upon Mr. 
Morgan, and circulated slanderous stories 
against him ; while the former became his 
faster friends, and were ready on every occa- 
sion to defend him from his calumniators. 

It became evident early in the year 
ITOO, that should Mr. Morgan choose to 
remain, a division would be the inevitable 
result of the difficulty. But Mr. Morgan, as 
I think every minister is in duty bound in 
such circumstances, chose rather to resign 
than bring about a hopeless division, and sent 
in the following, which is far more creditable 
to the minister than to the people to whom 
he speaks: — 

Reasons Why mr Morgan hathe' left preach- 
ing. 

Greenwich, Anno 1700, may 9, Mr Joseph Mor- 
gan's reasons wherefore hee seeth cause to leave 
ye work of ye preaching ye gospel in green wich, 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 83 

Imprimis^ because there is not a Unitie in ye place, 
viz: Greenwich and Horseneck for ye publique 
worship of god — 2ly because I do not see a profea- 
bilite of there coming in gospel order, having given 
you warning long ago, yt if they were not pro- 
moters of I would desert ye towne. Zly^ because I 
see not yt masters of families do laye restrant upon 
there families on ye sabbath night, which is a hin- 
drance of my worke: for by ye afore sd was 1 article, 
yt I declare to ye towne, when I lirst came. & I 
see several good reasons, yt I think most for ye 
towne's advantage for me to desert ye towne. 

Which several peticalers I have Publiquely at a 
towne meeting 1700 may ye 6 then having exprest 
my mind to ye towne. At which time I tendered 
to hear reasons to ye outside of anything, yt any 
person should bring against it expressing my desire 
to remain with you if it might be for the best. I 
not finding these things answered, I desire to leave 
ye towne being loth in respect to those who will 
want me, offering to help to ye outside of my skill to 
gett another minister. 

JOSEPH MORGAN. 

His request, Christianlike as it was, was 
granted by the town. But the people at 
Horseneck were unwilling to lose their favorite 
minister ; and branching off and forming a 
new society, they invited Mr. Morgan to 
preach for them. 



84: HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

We now find recorded the will of John 
Mead, senior, or tlie second John who came 
to this country. His will was written in 
March, 1696, or thirty-six years after his set- 
tlement here with his father and brother ; and 
his death probably occurred in the same year, 
when he was not far from eighty years of 
age. He had been a prominent citizen, re- 
spected not only for his even temperament 
but for his energy and decision of character. 
An anecdote given on a former page, shows 
many points in his character. In another 
part of this work will be found a table of all 
of his descendants. Here is his will signed 
by '' his marhy 

John Mead Senior's Will. 

Know all men by these presents yt I John Mead 
Senir. of Greenwich in ye collonie of Conecticut 
for ye love good will and affection which I have 
and bare towards my naturall sonn John Mead of 
ye towne of greenwich, and collonie aforesaid, have 
given and granted and by these presents do give 
& grant unto my sd sonn, John Mead<, now de- 
seased for his sonn John Mead my grandsonn a 
Sertaine persale of land and meadow lying and 
being in greenwich being bounded by ye land 
yt I John Mead Senir. bought of John Bowers 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 85 

north ; and a line drawn from ye northeast corner 
of ye land I bought of Angell Heusted, Junior, to a 
grate rock lying in ye frunt fence. All ye land 
lying in this compass witli ye house as it is bound- 
ed. Ye frunt of said land being bounded upon the 
hywaye west. The reare upon ye sea southeast. 
Upon these considerations following I give and 
grant clearly, fully and absolutely ye above men- 
tioned lands to him, his heairs and asignes : Iin- 
primis^ yt hee fully confirme yt contract yt was 
betweene his father and his uncle Ebenezer Mead. 
211y yt hee pay to his brothers Jonathan and ITa- 
than Mead, when they come to bee of age, five 
pounds to each of them & to his sister Elizabeth 
Mead fortie shillings. Ite^n I give and fully grant 
unto ye above sd John, two acres in ye home lott 
insted of yt, which ye sd John, now deseased, had 
of me in ye southfield, disposing of yt in ye south- 
field as I see convenient. 

Further, know all men by these presents yt I, 
John Mead Senir. aforesaid for ye love, good will 
and afection, which I have and beare towards my 
naturall sonn Joseph Mead of ye towne of green- 
wich, have given and granted and by these pres- 
ents do give and grant fully clearly and absolutely 
nnto my sd sonn Joseph Mead his heairs e% as- 
ignes, a Sertaine parsale of land & meadow, lying 
in myanos neck estemed seven acres, be it more 
or less, as it is bounded. Itera^ I gire unto my 
said sonn Joseph Mead his heaires & asignes, 

5 



86 HISTOKT OF GREENWICH. 

three acres of land in Stanford Southfield near ye 
upper gate, be it more or less as it is bounded. 

Further, know all men by these presents, yt I, 
John Mead Senior aforesd from ye love good will 
and afection which I have and bear towards my 
naturall sonn Ebinezer Mead of ye town of gren- 
wicli aforesd have given and granted, and by these 
presents do fully clearely & absolutely give and 
grant nnto my sd sonn Ebinezer his heaires & 
asignes a Persale of meadow in ye Hosack meadow, 
estemed two acres and a halfe be it more or less ye 
bounds being known by ye sd Ebinezer. 

Further know all men by these presents yt I 
John Mead Senior aforesd from ye love good will 
and efection which I have and beare towards my 
naturall sonn, Jonathan Mead, of yetowne of gren- 
wicli aforesd, I have given and granted, and by 
these presents I do fully clearly and absolutely give 
and grant nnto my said sonn Jonathan his heaires 
and asignes, a home lott, layed out to me at horse- 
neck, and all my lands lying within Horseneckfield 
& a Persale of land containing thi-ee acres more or 
less, lying at ye southeast end of Widow Howe's 
lott. 

Further know all men by these presents yt I 
John Mead Senior aforesd for ye love good will 
and afection yt I have and beare towards my natu- 
rall sonn, David Mead, of ye towne of bedford now 
in ye government of 'New Yorke yt I ye said John 
Mead Senior have given and granted, and by these 



filSTORT OF GREEN WiCH. »7 

presents, I do fully clearly and absolutely give and 
grant unto my sd sonn David Mead his lieaires and 
asignes ye accommodation lying and being at bed- 
ford, both lands and meadows, as it was granted to 
me. 

Further know all men by these presents, yt I 
John Mead, Senior, aforesaid, for ye love, good will 
& afection yt I have and beare toward my naturall 
sonn, Benjamin Mead, of ye towne of grenwich, 
aforesd, have given and granted, and do hereby 
fully, clearly, & absolutely give and grant unto my 
sd sonn, Benjamin Mead, those Persales of land, 
hereafter exprest, viz. : five acres of land at Stick- 
lin's brook, as it is layed out to me, and all my lands 
and meadow lying and being at that place, com- 
monly called Coscob, as it is layed out to mee, & ten 
acres of upland above ye road, added now to ye 
five. 

Further know all men by these presents, yt T, 
John Mead Senior from ye love good will and 
afection yt I have and beare towards my naturall 
sonn, Nathaniel Mead, of ye sd towne of grenwicb, 
aforesd, have given and granted, and by these 
presents do hereby give and grant unto my sd sonn, 
Kathaniel, his heaires and asignes, an acre and two 
rods of meadow in ye southfield, as it is bounded ; 
likewise seven acres of land lying at a place called 
Crock ; also two-thirds of my lands, as it shall be laid 
out of that estate, in Patrick's list. 

Further know all men by these presents yt I 



88 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

John Mead Senior aforsd for ye love good will and 
afection yt I have and beare towards my naturall 
sonn Samll Mead, of ye towne of grenwich, have 
given & granted, and by these presents do give & 
grant, fully, clearely & absolutely unto ye sd Saml. 
Mead, his heaires and asignes, oil my orcherd, item 
all my on ye east side of ye hye waye by my house 
both meadow & land & plowing land, bounded by 
ye grate rock yt lyeth in ye fence of land of my 
grandsonn, John Mead, & upon a straight line to ye 
northeast corner of ye meadow land yt I John 
Mead, aforesd, bought of Angell Husted Jr. Item, 
all my land upon Elizabeth Neck, as it is bounded ; 
itein, all my alotment in Stanford eastfield, on Ship- 
pan, which was my father Potters, as it is bounded 
item yt persale of land I had of the overseers of my 
father potter's estate, lying within Stamford bounds, 
fronting ye hye waye by ye southfield, as it is 
bounded. 

Further know yt ye aforesd housing, land & 
meadows I do freely give to him sd Samll Mead, 
my sonn, his heaires and asignes as aforesd also a 
persale of land lying by Gershom Lockwood, 
bounded by ye hye waye, west by ye lands of my 
Grandsonn John Mead southeast which persale of 
land was not mentioned before. Provided, yt ye 
sd Samll his heaires & asignes, do well and honor- 
ably maintain his mother with a convenient roome 
in ye house, such a room as his mother shall cheuse, 
& with such other things as may be suitable for her 



HISTOEY OF GREENWICH. 89 

comfortable subsistence, during her widowhood, & 
yt he paye out to his brother Nathaniel, aforesd, 20 
pounds in Provesion paye, as it passeth from man 
amoungst us. Beginning ye payement of it after 
my decease, and Paying five pounds pr annum, 
till tis payde. 

In witness whereof, I have hereunto sett my hand 
& Scale, this 16 march, 1695-6. 

his 
JOHN -I- MEAD, 



1 



mark. 



Signed and sealed in the 
presence of 

Salmon Teeat, 
Zachaeiah Mead. 
Certified before me JONATHAISr BELL, 

Commissioner. 

Mr. Mead was, as is supposed, buried in an 
old burying-ground a little southwest from 
the old one yet in existence on Greenwich 
Point. All traces of this burial place are 
now removed, the tombstones having been 
removed to form fences, and the place being 
often plowed over without regard for those 
sleeping the sleep of death there. The grave 
of even William Grimes is now unknown, as 
it has been recently plowed over by farmers 
in the vicinity. And if those who enjoy to 



90 HISTOEY OF GKEENWICH. 

this day his bounty were disposed to erect a 
monument to his memory, they could hardly 
denote the place of his burial. 

We here give a copy of his will with other 
matters of record, as it appears upon the town 
record. 

William Grimes, of Greenwich, his will. 

These testifie that I, weeliam Grimes, of this 
towne of greenwich, being of perfect memory and 
understanding, but being very sick in body, do give 
all my lands to ye disposal of Joseph Mead, John 
Renolds and Eliphalet Jones, to bee Disposed of by 
them in such a waye as thaye shall judge meet for 
ye Inlarging of ye towne of grenwich, by accom- 
modating such inhabitant or inhabitants as shall bee 
admitted into ye towne in an orderly way, provided 
they be such men as the aforesd Mead, Renolds & 
Jones shall judge desirable for the promoting of 
church and commonwealth. This, my Deade of gift 
shall stand good and firme at ye time of my dessease. 

Witness my hand, this : 18 : July, 1670. 

WILLIAM GRIMES. 

Witness, — 'Ruth Ferris, 

Debora Barlow. 

Inasmuch as the Townsmen of ye towne of green- 
wich have sent unto me for information about ye 
Disposal of yt persale of land and meadow, which 
was william Grimes, to ye disposal of Joseph Mead, 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 91 

John Renolds and myself, to be disposed by them, 

6 as they saw most advantageous to ye good & 
proffit of thee towne of Greenwich ; so wee did, al 
of us agreed, yt ye sd land should bee for ye use of 
a minister, as performing ye will, & it ought to have 
been so recorded & for as much as Joseph Mead is 
now deseased, & 1 myself beine Remote cannot act 
in my own person about it, I do constitute my 
Friend Joseph Ferris, of grenwich, to act in my 
stead, with John Eenolds to see yt it bee setled and 
recorded, as was firmly ordered. My mind is also 
that when at anytime the towne shall be without a 
minister, yt ye proffits of ye sd land shall go to helpe 
mainetaine such as shall bee Imployed in teaching 
children to Reade. 

ELIPHALET JOJSTES. 
Huntington, Apr 22, 1691. 

This acknowledge by ye subscriber Eliphalet 
Jones, ye date aforesaid. 

JOHN ARISTOLD, 
EPEISTETUS PLATT. 
theire majesties Justices of ye Peace, 
County of Suffolk, on Long Island. 

Greenwich, 1694, March ye 

7 Day. Wee, namely, John Renolds & Joseph 
Ferris conserned in ye disposal of ye above so- 
named Grimes land as doth above appear so for 
ourselves our heaires & sucksessors now make this 
following disposal to stand good and Authentic for 
ever, namely, yt ye land & meadow yt was Griraeses 



92 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

be Disposd of to ye town for ye use of ye ministrie 
of personage land, & if no minister Bee in ye j)lace 
3'e proffit of ye sd land & medow be Improved to 
be]p to maintan sucb as sball be Imployed to teacb 
children to Bead : and wee do jointly agree that 
this our Disposal do stand good for ye method of ye 
Improvement of ye towne, as witness our bands, ye 
date above sd. 

JOHN EENOLDS, 
JOSEPH FEREIS. 

The above is brought in here for the sake of 
the following agreement made in 1704 or 1Y05. 
When the separation of the town into two 
societies had become a plain, settled fact, the 
town through committees agreed upon the fol- 
lowing division of ecclesiastical property, 
which in I'TOS was ordered to be recorded, 
and thus appears upon a page of record : — 

Articles of Agreement 

Between ye Inhabitants on ye East sid of Myanos 
River and ye Inhabitants of sd Greenwich on ye 
west sid of sd Mianos River. 

1. That from the Dates of these there be a 
liberty of calling encouraging and setling the 
ministry of the gospel according to ye way of this 
Colony of Connecticut in two Societies on ye west 
side as w^ell as on ye East sid of Myanos River. 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 93 

2. That for ye encouragement of ye ministrye 
in either sid of ye sd river there be a rate raised 
annually by ye yearly list of ye towne of Greenwich, 
of which ye one halfe to be collected for ye minister 
of ye East side & ye other halfe to be collected for 
ye minister of ye west side of Myanos Kiver, & yt 
for ye present ye aniial rate amount to forescore 
pounds in provision pay. 

3. That all public charges consarning ye minister 
of ye gospel be equal, according to ye publick list. 

4. That thirty acres of land at Horseneck be 
registered ; and be continually for ye use of ye 
ministrie, according to ye way of ye sd Connecticut 
Colony at Horseneck, in ye lieu of grimeses land 
commonly called, which belong perpetually to ye 
use of ye ministrye on ye East side Mianos River, 
or Greenwich old town. 

5. That ye half of ye ordinary yearly salary for 
ye minister in Greenwich be collected in proportion 
according to ye public list of ye towne for ye minis- 
trye residing at either place, whether Horseneck or 
Greenwich Old Towne, provided the other place be 
destitute of a minister. 

6. That it be at ye liberty of each Society to 
make choice of their respective ministers. 

7. That ye general percell of land on ye east 
side of Myanos river, made choice of by mr. bower 
& entered upon ye towne records, be absolutely 
given to ye minister on ye east side, provided he be 
ordained, or Dy in ye place of his Improvement in 
Greenwich J & that upon ye same provesion the 



94 HISTOKY OF GREENWICH. 

lands the west side of ye sd river offered unto but 
not accepted by sd mr. bower be absolutely given 
and confirmed to ye minister of ye said west side. 

8. That eney Right in common lands in Green- 
wich mr. bower hath granted to him, or may have 
granted to him, as large and full ***** 
* * "^ * * * common lands be granted to 
ye minister at Horseneck. 

9. & Finally, that it is ye desire & agreement 
of ye Inhabitants, both on ye east and also on ye 
west side of Myanos River, that ye Articles be 
obliging and binding upon themselves and their 
associates. All ye above articles and primeses 
were published unto & before ye towne. Ye sub- 
scribers. Committee of six Inhabitants of sd Green- 
wich, were appointed & ordered in ye name of ye 
towne to subscribe theire confirmation of all & every 
ye above articles. 

On ye west side of Myanos, 

EBENEZER MEAD, 
JOSHUA KNAP, 
TIMOTHY K:NAP. 

On the East sid Myanos River, 

SAMUEL PECK, 
JOK. REFOLDS, ^^ 
ROBERT LOCKWOOD. 
Subscribed in presence of us, 

JONATH. SeLLECK, 

John Davenport, 
Samuel HAn, 
David Waterbury. 



HISTOKY OF GREENWICH. 95 

In 1702, some farther arrangements had been 
made respecting Mr. Morgan, which resulted 
in Mr. Morgan's accej^tance of a call to preach 
for six years more. 

Up to 1703, all town meetings had been 
held in Greenwich " old town ;" but it was 
now voted that they should be held one half of 
the time at Horseneck. And about this time 
there was quite an emigration from the old 
settlement to the western and northwestern 
parts of the town. 

At a Town meeting bareing Date May ye 3 
1704 the town taking into consideration that wbicli 
hath formerly been Don by ye towne in order to 
Mr. Nathaniel Bowers selling in the towne hath 
been ineffectual & considering Mr. bowers hath 
promised to setel at Horsneck if ye inhabitants did 
not call him to office on ye East sid Mianus river 
& being informed mr. bowers Designs to leave ye 
town these things considered ye towne pr vote 
see cans & reson to invite Mr. Bower to setle at 
Greenwich towne plott on ye west side Mianus 
river which if Mr. Bowers sees cause to except, 
Then ye town doth promis & Ingage to make suita- 
ble provesion for himself & for setling him in his 
ministerial office. 

At a town meeting, December ye 19 : 1704 : The 
Town per vote grant Liberty unto Corinal hethcut 
to build tow small sloops sum where about Mianos 
river. 



96 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

Furthermore, moved ye towne put it to vot 
whether Mr. bowers should have fifty-five pounds, 
and it passes in the Negative, 

Furthermore, ye town pr vot do not Desire Mr. 
Bowers to continue any longer in ye work of ye 
ministrye in Greenwich. 

Notwithstanding this vote, it appears tliat 
Mr. Bowers was here in 1Y06, and we have 
been unable to ascertain w^hen he left, or if, 
indeed, he preached at all after the last men- 
tioned date. 

Furthermore, ye Town per vot grant Liberty, 
unto ye inhabitants on ye east sid mianus to beuld 
a mill upon any strem where they shall think con- 
venient. 

Furthermore, the Town per vot do grant Liberty 
unto the inhabitants of greenwich living on the 
west side Mianus river, to build a tide mill upon 
Sticklin brook or Coscob river themselves or to 
imploy som other parson whom they shall think 
fitt and likwise Do grant them use of ye streams 
for that end. 

After the town had thus given permission 
to the inhabitants of Horseneck to build a 
mill, a meeting was held of which the follow- 
ing is the record : — 

At a meeting of ye Inhabitants of ye town of 
Greenwich on ye west side of Myanos river 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 97 

legally warned &met on ye nineteenth day of June, 

1705 Whereas ye sd inhabitants have had a 

grant from ye town at a town meeting on ye 9th day 
of January 1704, of ye stream of ye tide or creek of 
Coscob river to own a grist mill, or imploy whom 
the see cause therein the sd inhabitants have grant- 
ed sd stream to Mr. Joseph Morgan, to build a grist 
mill, and do there in oblige him, his heairs and 
asines, to grind for ye inhabitants of ye towne of 
Greenwich for aboute one 12 part of all grain, & 
do grant that toll, and do oblige him and his heaires 
& asigns, to grind for said inhabitants what grain 
they bring to mill on Tuesdays and Fridays forth- 
with, not to hinder them for strangers, and do 
oblig him, his heairs and successors, by virtue of ys 
grant to keep a sufficient hous for to secure ye grain 
yt is brought to sd mill. 

This arrangement continued until 1T08, 
when further action was taken in a similar 
meeting. 

EPISCOPALIANISM. 

In the year 1704, Eev. George Muirson 
(see Hawkin's Hist. No. 1, of Col. Church), 
having been ordained, was appointed to the 
mission of Kye. In one of his reports to 
the Society sustaining him, he says: 

I have been lately in the Government of Connec- 
ticut, where I observe some people well affected to 



98 HISTORY OF GKEEKWICH. 

the church, for those that are near come to my 
parish on Sabbath days ; so that I am assured an 
itinerant missionary might do great service in that 
province. Some of their ministers have privately 
told me that, had we a bishop among us they would 
conform and receive holy orders, from which as 
well as all on the continent, the necessity of a bishop 
will plainly appear. 

Mr. Muirson was exceedingly zealous and 
active in attempting to plant a missionary 
Church of his sect of religion in this vicinity. 
And he was warmly supported by the assist- 
ance of Col. Caleb Heathcote, of Westchester 
county. Col. Heathcote himself also wrote 
frequently to the Society upon the subject, 
and in his letters frequently complained that 
great opposition was encountered, and stating 
that Mr. Muirson had been forbidden to preach 
by the justices of Connecticut, who had even 
threatened to put him and all his hearers in 
jail. 

Col. Heathcote enters, in some of his letters 
to the Secretary, upon a discussion of the'gen- 
eral affairs of the Church in New York, New 
Jersey, and Connecticut. In his letter dated 
Scarsdale Manor, Nov. 9th, 1705 (see Bolton's 
History of Westchester County, Vol. H. page 
106), he says : — ■ 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 99 

But bordering on Connecticut there is no part of 
the continent, from whence the church can have so 
fair an opportunity to make impressions upon the 
Dissenters in that government, who are settled by 
their laws from Rye parish to Boston Colony, which 
is about 35 leagues, in which there are an abund- 
ance of people and places. As for Boston Colony, 
I never was in it, so can say little to it. But for 
Connecticut, I am and have been pretty conversant ; 
and always was as much in their good graces as 
any man. 

And now I am upon that subject, I will give you 
the best account I can of that colony. It contains, 
in length about 140 miles and has in it about 40 
towns, in each of which there is a Presbyterian or 
Independent minister settled by their law ; to whom 
the people are obliged to pay, notwithstanding 
many times they are not ordained ; of which I have 
known several examples. The number of people 
there, I believe are about 2,400 souls. They have 
an abundance of odd kind of laws, to prevent any 
from dissenting from their church, and endeavor to 
keep the people in as much blindness and unac- 
quaintedness with any other religion as possible ; 
but in a more particular manner the church, look- 
ing upon her as the most dangerous enemy they 
have to grapple withal. And abundance of pains 
is taken to make the ignorant think as bad as possi- 
ble of her. And I really believe that more than 
half of the people of that government, think our 
church to be little better than the Papists. And 



100 HI8T0KY OF GREENWICH. 

tliey fail not to improve everything against us ; but, 
and I bless God for it, the Society have robbed 
them of their best argument, which was the ill lives 
of the Clergy that came into these parts. And the 
truth is, I have not seen many good men but of the 
Society's sending. 

And no sooner was that honorable body settled, 
and those prudent measures taken for carrying on 
that great work, but the people of Connecticut, 
doubting of maintaining their ground without some 
further support, they with great industry went 
through their colony for subscriptions to build a 
College at a place called Seabrook. And the min- 
isters, who are as absolute in their respective par- 
ishes as the Pope of Home, argued, prayed, and 
preached up the necessity of it ; and the passive 
obedience people, who dare not do otherwise than 
obey gave even beyond their ability. A thing 
which they call college, was prepared accordingly, 
wherein I am informed, there was a commencement 
three or four months ago. But notwithstanding 
their new college here, and old one in Boston, and 
that every town in the colony has one, and some 
two ministers, and have not only heard them say 
but seen it in their prints, that there was no place 
in the world where the gospel shone so brightly, 
nor that people lived so religiously and well as 
they: yet I dare aver, that there is not a much 
greater necessity of having the christian religion 
preached in its true light anywhere than amongst 
them. Many, if not the greater number of them. 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. lOl 

being little better than in a state of heathenism ; 
having never been baptised nor admitted to the 
communion. And that you may be satisfied what 
I tell you herein is not spoken at random, nor 
grounded on careless observation, Mr. Muirson's 
Parish is more than three-fourths of it composed of 
two towns, viz ; Rye and Bedford, which were first 
settled under the Colony of Connecticut and of 
people born and bred under that government, and 
some time before my coming, had a minister, one 
Mr. Denham, and had afterward two more. Wood- 
bridge and Bowers at Rye and one Mr. Jones at 
Bedford. And the people of Rye only had of this 
county, the care to provide a parsonage house. 
And notwithstanding all those great shows of reli- 
gion, and that at such times as they were destitute 
of a minister. 

Greenwich and Stanford, the bounds of the for- 
mer of which places join upon theirs and the other 
is not above ten miles distant, where they were 
always supplied. But they could not be said to 
want the opportunity of having the Sacrament ad- 
ministered to them, yet, I believe, 20 of them have 
never received the communion, nor half of them 
been baptized, as Mr. Muirson more fully will inform 
you. And now I have given you an account of the 
state of that colony, what will in the next place be 
naturally expected from me, is to know my opinion 
of the best and most probable way of doing good 
amongst them. 

There is nothing more certain, than that is the 



102 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

most difficult task that the Society have to wade 
through, for the people are not only not of the 
church, but have been, and are, trained up with all 
the care imaginable to be its enemies. That to 
make an impression under all those disadvantages, 
is very difficult, though I hope not impossible. 
And though, at first view, the prospect of doing any 
good upon them is very little yet no doubt but the 
most proper measures ought to be taken, leaving 
the event to Almighty God. 

In the remainder of his letter Col. Heath- 
cote recommends that Rev. Mr. Muirson be 
sent on a Missionary tour thoughout the 
colony. 

Afterwards, as late as July 15th 1740 (see 
Bolton's History of Westchester County), 
Rev. James Wetmore, in acquainting the So- 
ciety with the success of his Mission, writes, 
that beside his regular duty at Rye, he offici- 
ated once a month at Stamford and Green- 
wich. 

No Episcopal Church was built in Green- 
wich until 1747, when steps were taiken for 
that purpose, under Dr. Ebenezer Dibble, 
Missionary. 

March ye 18, 1708, at a meeting of ye inhabit- 
ants on the west sid Mianus river, they vote as 



HISTOKY OF GREENWICH. 103 

followeth, yt Mr. Morgan should go and live by his 
mill for ye space of six years if lie see occation for 
it, & there keep a lad to tend his mill, and oversee 
him therein himself, and continue in ye worke of ye 
ministrye. 

Caleb Knap & Jonathan Hobby & Jonathan 
Renolds, benjamin Clos, henry rich Jo heusted 
Stephen holmes & Gershom Lockwood, James 
Ferris, Isaack How, Jonthan Finch : these all do 
enter there protest against ye above sd act of Mr. 
Morgan's going to ye mill. 

During the same year another meeting was 
held relative to the same subject, with the 
following result : 

At a meeting of ye inhabitants of Greenwich on 
ye west sid Mianus E-iver Anno 1708 July ye 2ond 
ye above sd Inhabitants do vot yt Mr. Morgan shall 
be settled up in ye place, & whereas there is a 
difference in ye place concerning ye place of Mr. 
Morgan's settlement, ye Inhabitants above sd by 
vot Do Joyntiy agree to leave it to ye ministers of 
this county fully to determine & to say where Mr. 
Morgan shall be setled, whether down at the mill, 
or up in ye place amoungst us ; & to sett down 
contented with their judgment in setlin Mr. Morgan 
according to gospel order, ye inhabitants above sd 
by vot Do make choice of Ebenezer Mead and 
Caleb Knapp to go to ye ministers & give them ye 
reasons of ye difference abot Mr. Morgan's living 
at his mills. 



104 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

What tlie decision given by the Ministers 
was, we have been unable to ascertain ; but 
we find the following account on record, of 
another meeting held during the same year : 

At a meeting of je Inhabitants of Greenwich 
on ye west side of ye river, August ye 27, 1708, 
vot as followeth, viz. : yt Mr. Ebenezer Mead, 
Joshua Knap and Caleb Knap shall be there Com- 
mittee to see if Mr. Morgan provideth himself with 
a miller, and leaves his mills and betakes himself to 
ye work of ye ministry, & to take from under Mr. 
Morgan's hand that he relinquisheth ye thirty acres 
of land, ye hous, & hom lott, in case he deserts ye 
towne ; & in case Mr. Morgan faileth in ye premises, 
then ye place is to be at there Liberty, & above 
said Committee to take care to provide ye place 
with another minister by ye last of September. 

Oct. ye 17, Mr. Morgan Desired ye above sd 
Committee to meet & give him a full answer, which 
accordingly ye above sd Committee met & answered 
that according to ye above sd towne act he was at 
his liberty and likewise they was at their liberty to 
provide ye place with another minister. 

From this last record, it would appear that 
Mr. Morgan chose rather to live at his mills 
and not preach, than to preach and not live 
at his mills. Doubtless this was the end of 
his stated regular preaching, yet we do not 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 105 

find tliat any other minister came here during 
the succeeding half-dozen years. Possibly 
and probably, the Horseneck Society had fre- 
quent preaching by transient ministers ; and 
no doubt Mr. Morgan preached for them 
often, in the absence of others. 

The materials for an elaborate history are 
wanting during this period, and we must pass 
over several years from this time with little 
notice. 

During the year 1Y13, it would seem that 
the people freely discussed the question of a 
re-union of the town in one ecclesiastical 
society. This idea would doubtless be ridi- 
culed now ; but it should be remembered that 
in those days, distance was little thought of 
by good church-going people, and the prevail- 
ing fashions did not make so much time requi- 
site for preparation as they do now. Besides 
this, economy in society expenses doubtless 
had its influence with many of the inhabitants. 
The Second Society was at that time without 
a regular pastor, and, if we judge properly 
from the face of the records, the First Society 
also. Hence, the project was so plausible, as 
to receive the following attention at a town 
meeting : — 



106 HISTORY OF GREEN WICfl. 

At a Town meetting held in greenwicb, Anno 
1713 October the 5th day the town taking into 
consideration where might be ye best place for to 
erect a meeting house for ye unitting of the town 
together, ye town by vot Do Judge that between 
Joseph Closes house & Ephraim Palmers hous is ye 
most suitable place in the bounds of ye town to 
erect said house. 

The house designated in tlie above extract 
as Mr. Joseph. Close's, was near the present 
residence of Jonathan A. Close, Esq., and that 
of Ephraim Palmer was situated where Jose- 
phus Palmer now resides. The place selected, 
therefore, was nearly the geographical center 
of the town. Indeed, it may then have been 
the point most easily to be reached for 
the then inhabitants, as previous to this 
time the portions to the north and west of 
this had become quite thickly settled. How- 
ever, no church was ever built there, and the 
design was entirely abandoned. 

Another proof that there was no minister 
here at that time, is the following: ' 

At a Towne meeting held in Greenwich Dec. 
ye 29di day Anno 1715. Town meeting adjourned 
to meet at minister's house. 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 107 



1715 TO EEVOLUTIONARY WAE. 

A reliable history of this period could 
hardly be given. Tradition hands down to 
us a few facts and ditties, while the record 
gives us little worth preserving, besides the 
ordinary annual elections and regular business 
of the town. 



At a Towne meeting held in Greenwich, Anno 
1716, June the 15th daye. The Towne by vot Do 
give & grant unto Mr. Justice Bush of New York 
the privilege of the stream of horseneck brook 
below the contry road to build a grist mill or mills 
upon, & sd Justice Bush is to build said mill within 
two years time from this date, & to grind for the 
inhabitants of Greenwich what grain they shall 
bring to his mill to be ground, & not to put them 
by for strangers, & he is to have liberty to gett 
stones & timber upon common lands for buildings 
and mill, & also to sett up a storehous upon said 
landing, & said Justice Bush is constantly to main- 
tain a sufficient grist mill upon sd stream, except 
said mill should come to some accident by fire or 
otherwise & said Justice Bush do not rebuild her 
again within three years time, then the said stream 
& Privileges to return for there use & benefit as 
formerly ; & further, Mr. Ebenezer Mead & Angell 
Husted & John Ferris are chosen to lay out the 



108 HISTORY OF GEEENWICM. 

landing and highway on the ITorthside of horseneck 
brook. 

On the 22ond day of Dec. 1724 the town granted 
liberty to Daniel Smith to build a wharf at the 
mouth of Horseneck brook * * * ^ * * for 
ye use of ye towne. 

A protracted lawsuit a few years since was 
lost by tbe defendant, because unable to find 
tbe above extracts upon tbe records ; and so 
great is tbe age and wear of tbe book, tbat 
but few scarcbes would seriously endanger its 
existence. 

In lYlY, tbe Second Society was provided 
with anotber minister, tbe Eev. Kicbard Sack- 
ett. Little seems to be known of bim, even 
by bis immediate descendants. He is spoken 
of as a kind, mild man, and universally be- 
loved by bis people. Mr. Sackett graduated 
in middle life at Yale College, in tbe class of 
seventeen bundred and nine, tbe largest class 
tbat bad then graduated in tbat College. He 
preacbed in Green wicb until bis deatb, wbicb 
occurred in 1727, ten years after bis settle- 
ment. 

Upon tbe decease of Mr. Sackett, tbe Soci- 
ety procured tbe services of Kev. Stephen 
Munson, wbo was duly installed as pastor on 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 109 

tte 29tli day of May, A. D. 1Y28. Mr. Mun- 
son was also a graduate of Yale College, in 
the class of seventeen hundred and twenty- 
five, and came to Greenwich immediately after 
finishino: his theolosjical studies. He remained 
pastor only two years, when he was, like Mr, 
Sackett, who preceded him, taken from his 
church by death. This occurred in May, 
1730. 

The pulpit of this Society was then filled 
by various ministers until 1732, when the 
church extended a call to Rev. Abraham 
Todd, who accepted the call, and during the 
next year was duly installed. Mr. Todd was 
then a young man, having just finished his 
theological studies. He had been graduated 
at Yale Collesre in the class of seventeen hun- 

o 

dred and twenty-seven. He remained pastor 
of the church for forty years, when in the 
year 1773 he died. Of his character, the du- 
ration of his ministerial office over a single 
church is, perhaps, a sufficient indication. He 
is said to have been of a mild, easy disposition, 
and many anecdotes are handed down to us 
by tradition, concerning him. Although a 
general favorite throughout the whole period 
6 



110 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

of Ills ministry, lie may, like others, liave had 
some though few enemies. 

It is related that during his ministry, many 
of his hearers were out-spoken men, even ex- 
pressing themselves publicly during worship, 
as to the merits or demerits of the doctrines 
advanced. Among this class of persons was 
one Palmer, who was present during the ser- 
vice on an occasion when an Indian Mission- 
ary preached to Mr. Todd's congregation. He 
preached fluently, and we presume well ; and 
so great an impression did his logic and elo- 
quence make upon Palmer, that he exclaimed 
at the close of the sermon, with great vehe- 
mence, "Let's swap Todd and buy the Injin, 
he does a good deal the best." Mr. Todd, him- 
self, was present; but whether he thought it so 
much the greater compliment to the Indian, 
or a low estimate of his own powers, we are 
not informed. 

Some other facts relating to Mr. Todd, may 
be found upon the succeeding pages of this 
volume. *■ 

In 1735, according to Dr. Trumbull, one 
Benj. Strong was installed at Stanwich ; but I 
deem this a mistake, as no society was formed 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. Ill 

there until some thirty or more years after 
this date. It may be, indeed, that such a 
minister occasionally performed service there, 
but we have no record of the fact. Mr. Ben- 
jamin Strong was graduated at New Haven, 
in the class of 1Y34, and probably there may 
be a mistake in the date given by Dr. Trum- 
bull. 

In 1740, Rev. James Wetmore, a graduate 
from Yale College, and a convert from the 
Presbyterian to the Episcopal doctrines, being 
then settled at Kye, preached once a month 
at Stamford and Greenwich. In 1747, Rev. 
Ebenezer Dibble, also a graduate of Yale, be- 
came a missionary for the parish including 
both Stamford and Grreenwich. He was a 
member of the class of seventeen hundred 
and thirty-four. He became Master of Arts 
in 1793, the title of Doctor of Sacred Theol- 
ogy was conferred upon him by Columbia 
College. His death occurred in 1799. After 
preaching two years at private houses, the 
communicants of the Episcopal Church built 
a house of worship, it being the first in town. 
Some of our oldest residents (Samuel Close, 
Esq.) remember his preaching at the house 



112 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

of Moses Heiisted, where William A. Heusted, 
Esq., now resides. His long flowing white 
hair, falling gracefully upon his shoulders, 
gave him a reverential and dignified appear- 
ance. 

In 1745 and 1746, occurred the death of 
an aged couple, Mr. Samuel Peck, Esq., and v 
his wife Ruth. They were buried in the old 
burying ground at Old Greenwich, where 
their tombstones still remain, upon which the 
following epitaphs are quite legible. 

Here lies the Here lies the 

Body of Mrs. Eutli Body of Samuel 

Peck, wife of Samll. Peck, Esqr., who 

Peck, Esqr., who Died April ye 2Sth, 
Died sept, ye ITth, * AD : 1746. 

1745, about 83 Aged 90 years, 
years of age. 

The name of Samuel Peck, as well as that 
of his wife, has occurred frequently in the 
preceding pages of this history, and both are 
often met with upon our town records. In 
his day Mr. Peck was probably the most influ- 
ential man in the settlement. He was the 
son of Kev. Jeremiah Peck, and was born in 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 113 

1656. He moved into town with his father 
in 16*76. Though not by any means the most 
wealthy^ yet, if we may judge from the im- 
portant positions he held, he was probably 
the best educated. He held the office of Jus- 
tice of the Peace as long as his age permitted. 
His wife was Miss Ruth Ferris, whose name 
is frequently to be found upon the records ; 
and she was a high-minded, influential woman. 
Contemporary with these, when in the prime 
of life, was Lieut. Gershom Lockwood ; but he 
died some twenty years before them. He 
was the principal carpenter and builder in 
the town, and filled many offices of trust and 
importance. His grave, a few feet north of 
Mr. Peck's, is marked by a tombstone with 
this epitaph : 

Here lyes ye Body 
of Mr. Gershom 
Lockwood, aged 
77 years, dec'd 
March ye 12th, 
1718-19. 

In the same grave-yard stands a tombstone 
of a more recent date, through which is a 
hole, which has been a matter of considerable 



114: HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

speculation. As there was a sort of skirmish 
in the vicinity, a report has gained some Cre- 
dence, that a musket had sent a bullet entirely 
through the stone ; but upon our making a 
strict examination, we perceived unmistakable 
marks of an auger, and we presume the hole, 
though unused, was bored through for the 
purpose of mending the stone, which at some 
time had been broken. 



FRENCH WAR. 

During the French wars, as well as in the 
Revolutionary, Connecticut furnished more 
than her actual quota of men. We shall speak 
only of the second French war here, as we 
have no account of any detachment or com- 
pany from Greenwich in active service during 
the first war. That commenced by a declara- 
tion of war on the part of Great Britain 
against Spain on the 23d day of October, 
1739. Great Britain contemplated raising 
four regiments in America, to be transported 
to Jamaica, there to effect a junction with 
a powerful armament from the mother coun- 
try. The expenses of victualing, transporta- 
tion, and other necessaries were to be defrayed 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 115 

by the colonies until the force should reach 
Jamaica. Dr. Trumbull says, — 

Connecticut engaged with cheerfulness and expe- 
dition in his Majesty's measures. A special Assem- 
bly was convoked in July, 1740, and it was enacted, 
that " Whereas his majesty has thought fit to declare 
war against Spain, and hath appointed an expedi- 
tion against the Catholic King in the West Indies, 
and has given his orders and instructions, under 
his royal sign manual, now laid before this assem- 
bly by his honor, the governor, for the raising 
of such troops in the colony as shall voluntarily 
enlist in the said service, to join the Brittish troops 
in a general rendezvous in the West Indies : and 
whereas, it appears by said instructions that it is 
his majesties expectations, that the assembly will 
provide victuals, transports and all necessaries for 
the said troops, to be raised in this colony, except 
their clothes, tents, arms, ammunition and pay, 
until they arrive at the general place of the general 
rendezvous, which important affair this general 
assembly, feeling most willing to exert themselves 
to promote by a cheerful conformity to his majesty's 
instructions, therefore be it enacted, — Tliat there 
shall be provided victuals, transports, and all 
other necessaries for said troops, &c., until their 
arrival in the West Indies." 

Committees were appointed to carry these meas- 
ures into immediate effect. 



116 HISTOEY OF GREENWICH. 

Proclamation to carry out tlie king's com- 
mand had already been made, and calls for 
volunteers had been issued. The committee 
appointed by the Assembly set themselves 
thoroughly at work. Prominent and influential 
men set themselves at work in each of the 
counties to beat up volunteers. Though this 
expedition fail, yet the colonies had raised 
their four regiments, and Connecticut had fur- 
nished her quota. At the same meeting of 
the Assembly, large appropriations were made 
for the defense of the coast of Connecticut, 
and a small sloop-of-war prepared for the bet- 
ter protection of the seamen in and about the 
sound. 

As was to be expected afterwards, on the 
4th day of March, 1744, France declared war 
against England. This brought the active 
fighting to the northern frontier. The Indians 
were excited to hostilities by the French, and 
much trouble threatened the colonies. Con- 
necticut exerted herself to the utmost. On 
the I'rth of June, 1745, the city of Xouisburg 
and the island of Cape Breton were delivered 
up to his Britannic Majesty. " Towards the 
close of the year [1747] the war languished, 
and a general inactivity appeared among the 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 



117 



belligerents, indicating that they were nearly 
exhausted, and verging to a general pacifica- 
tion." 

In the following April (April the 30th, 
1Y48), both nations being heartily tired of a 
war arising and maintained merely for na- 
tional spite and hatred, preliminaries to peace 
were signed at Aix-la-Chapelle ; and in a few 
days a cessation of hostilities was proclaimed. 
The final treaty was settled upon and com- 
pleted on the 7th of October of the same year. 
All prisoners and conquests were mutually to 
be given up. The reasons for which either 
nation entered into this war, are almost a mys- 
tery. National jealousy and hostility may be 
considered as the whole cause ; and for pure 
spite on the part of the old countries, the colo- 
nies of each were subjected to great expense 
and privation. 

The peace which resulted from this treaty 
was but of short duration. The French re- 
newed their claim to a great portion of that 
territory which had been ceded to Great 
Britain by the twelfth article of the treaty of 
Utrecht, and which had been confirmed by all 
succeeding treaties. Their encroachments had 
been commenced almost as soon as the first 
6* 



118 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

war had been ended, and in l'r49 were fast ad- 
vancing towards Ticonderoga. They were, 
also, fast extending their line of forts from the 
St. Lawrence to the Mississippi, and even 
encroached upon the borders of Virginia. 
Settling Virginians were driven from the 
Ohio, and English trading merchants were 
plundered and killed by the Indians, at the 
instigation of the French. Active hostilities 
may be said to have commenced in 1Y55, and 
on the 18th of May, 1756, Great Britain de- 
clared war against France, which was recipro- 
cated by France in a similar declaration, early 
in the following June. This is termed the 
second French war. Connecticut was largely 
drawn upon for troops. Young men were 
pressed into the service. As Greenwich, in 
the early part of the war, had no volunteer 
company, several of the inhabitants of Green- 
wich were pressed. James Green, now long 
since dead, used to relate that while a com- 
pany of young people, himself among t)ie num- 
ber, were quietly enjoying themselves at the 
tavern (then kept by one Mead, but now 
occupied as a dwelling-house by Epenetus 
Sniffin, Esq.), they were surprised by a press- 
gang, and several of them forced into the ser- 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 119 

vice, while lie with a few others escaped from 
a window. After this time, a regular volun- 
teer company was raised. This company 
seems to have marched directly to Ticonde- 
roga in 1759, and joined the 3d Connecticut 
regiment. One of the company, a Mr. Coit, 
residing in King street, was mounted upon a 
rather sorry nag, which by the time the com- 
pany had reached Nine Partners, in Dutchess 
County, had become quite leg-weary. And 
Coit, thinking perhaps that all is fair in time 
of war, took a noble horse from a pasturage 
and turned his own there instead, without any 
whys or wherefores with the real owner. His 
new horse did him good service during the 
company's stay at Ticonderoga, which was but 
little more than a month ; and on his return 
the company halted, that Coit might deliver 
the horse to his owner. 'So well pleased was 
the latter with the boldness of Coit, that he 
made the whole company stop for the night 
at his house, free of expense. After the war 
Mr. Coit went to Vermont and settled there 
permanently ; several years after, having be- 
come wealthy, he came to Greenwich in his 
carriage, and visited all his old comrades of 
the volunteer company. 



120 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

In 1755, Connecticut had furnislied a thou- 
sand men, at the commencement of the cam- 
paign ; and after the contest at Lake George, 
they sent as a reinforcement to the army, one 
thousand more. In 1Y56, this colony raised 
over two thousand five hundred men. This 
was much more than her quota, and double 
the number required by the king's commander- 
in-chief. In the following year, Connecticut 
had more than six thousand men in actual 
service. But on the 8th of March, 1'759, it 
was resolved by the Assembly : — 



That the number of men raised last year was 
greater than the colony could conveniently furnish ; 
that many had died, and others had been disabled 
and rendered unfit for service, in the last campaign ; 
that numbers had enlisted as recruits into his ma- 
jesty's regiments; and that others were employed 
in the batteaux and carrying service, by which 
means the number of the colony were diminished. 
Yet that the salutary designs of his majesty might 
as far as possible be answered, it was resolv-ed, firmly 
relying on his majesty's royal and most gracious 
encouiai^ement, that three thousand six hundred 
men should be raised in this colony, consisting of 
four re^^iments of ten companies in each. — (Trum- 
bull's il ist.) 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 121 

Phineas Lyman was made the commanding 
officer of tlie 1st Regiment ; Nathan Whiting, 
of the 2d; David Wooster, of the 3d; and 
Eleazer Fitch, of the 4th. All between the 
ages of sixteen and sixty, were then compelled 
to bear arms. The inhabitants gave of their 
substance for the support of this war, and the 
ladies of the various towns formed associa- 
tions for the clothing of the soldiers. Mrs. 
Abraham Todd was the president of such an 
association in Greenwich. 

Ticonderoga, against which the Connecticut 
regiments were especially engaged, was evac- 
uated by the French, after blowing up their 
magazine, on the 27th of July, 1759. The 
city of Quebec surrendered on the 18th of 
September following. On March 12th, 1760, 
it was resolved by Connecticut again to raise 
^ve thousand men ; and they went into the 
field, commanded by the same officers. On 
September 8th, 1760, Montreal and the whole 
of Canada were given up to the kingdom of 
Great Britain ; and peace followed as a natural 
consequence. 

An ancient powder-horn is still preserved 
by Col. Thomas A. Mead, upon which is al- 
most perfectly delineated, the relative posi- 



122 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

tions and forts of tlie hostile armies while at 
Ticonderoga. This work was done by Dr. 
Amos Mead, who was surgeon of the Third 
Connecticut Regiment, while at Ticonderoga. 
The horn beside this chart, has engraven upon 
it this inscription : — 



Amos Mead 
Surgn of ye 3d Conn Reg 
Ticonderoga October 1759 



At a town meeting March the 2d, 1756, it 
was " Furthermore voted that Mr. Nehemiah 
Mead should have liberty to sell the Town 
stock of Powder as soon as he can conven- 
iently to ye Towns best advantage and lay 
out all the money that he shall sell said pow- 
der for, in powder that is good and put the 
same into Town stock as soon as he conven- 
iently can." 

1757, December the 3d, Monday, "Voted 
to Mr. Edmund Brown and associates liberty 
to build a saw mill on Horseneck brook at 
Hangroot." By this agreement. Brown and 
his associates were to build and keep in repair 
the bridge at Hangroot, and be responsible 
for damages that might thereby occur by 
accident to any person. 



HISTOKY OF GREENWICH. 123 

In 1758, tlie following record, taken with 
other similar extracts, shows that the town 
meetings were held alternately in all the 
places of worship in the town : " At a Town 
meeting of the Inhabitants of the town of 
Greenwich, legally warned and attended at 
the House Built by the Professors of the 
Church of England in the Society of Horse- 
neck on the top of the great hill on the Third 
Monday of December A. D. 1758 being ye 
18th day of said month, &c., &c." 

But on the fifteenth day of December 1760, 
it was "Further Voted to Build a Town 
House and leave it to the authority and select 
men how large it shall be and where it shall 
stand." " Further voted that the Kate for 
building the Town House shall be paid by 
the first day of September next." 

In 1762, we have the first mention of a 
fund belonging to the town ; which is supposed 
in some way to have resulted in the present 
fund of the old Second School Society. A 
committee was then appointed, consisting of 
John Clapp, Silas Betts and Peter Mead, " To 
take charge of one certain Bond of <£l58.0s.0d, 
and to divide the money equally according to 
the Design of the Assembly for the use of the 



124 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

schools." This bond is afterward mentioned 
upon the record each year, in connection with 
a committee to secure and distribute the avails 
of it. In 1767, it is spoken of as being se- 
cured at Norfolk in the following manner: 
" And whereas there are certain lands con- 
veyed to the committee of the Town of Green- 
wich and to their successors by Ezra Knapp 
of Norfolk, which lands are lying in said Nor- 
folk and are Designed for the use of schools 
in Greenwich and as it appears Necessary that 
some proper persons be appointed to Lease or 
sell said land for the purpose aforesaid for 
and in behalf of sd Town and to account 
for the sales or profits thereof," a committee 
was appointed for the purpose. The bond, 
therefore, seems to have become worth as 
much or more than the land on which it 
had been secured, and to have been given up 
in consideration of the land. Before given 
up, the land at Norfolk subject to the mort- 
gage was conveyed to Epenetus Hplmes, also 
of Norfolk. In discharge of the bond Mr. 
Holmes conveyed some land in Greenwich, to 
the town, together with his sloop. Hence — 

At a town meeting, &c., Holden in Greeawicb, 
on October ye ITth, 1774, The Town jDer vote do ap- 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 126 

point the Present Select men for said Town their 
Committee to sell the sloop and lands and outlands 
conveyed to said Town by Epenetus Holmes ; said 
sale to be accounted for to said town, for the use of 
the schools ; and the select men are appointed to sell 
said House and lands, Either together or separate, 
as may best suit ye purchaser or purchasers, on the 
day of the next annual Town Meeting, at 12 o'the 
clock, noon, at the Town House at Horseneck, by 
way of Public Yendue. Eesolved in the affirma- 
tive, and that selectmen or any one of them, notify 
Mr. Epenetus Holmes by letter that the town expect 
the interest Due on his mortgage, or if not, he may 
expect, &c. 

In 1767, the following petition was pre- 
sented at town meeting, relating to the dock 
at Coscob. 

To the benevolent inhabitants of the Town of 
Greenwich, in Fairfield County, the petition of Na- 
thaniel Close, of said Greenwich, Humbly showoth, 
that your Petr. being under a necessity of a store, 
house, as his performing a weekly Pauquet or stage 
boat from here to 'New York lays both him and the 
inhabitants under a great disadvantage, in Respect 
he hath no proper place to store the effects of his 
Freighters, nor for them to store what effects and 
produce they severally bring when his vessel is not 
there to Receive it ; which Disadvantage hath been 
sensibly Felt during the last summer. He there- 



126 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

fore Prays Liberty of this meeting, that he may be 
permitted to build a store-house of 26 feet by 30, 
adjoining the Bank, between the Dwelling house of 
Mr. John Bush and the Gristmill of David Bush, 
so as to leave about sixteen feet from said mill to sd 
store, for a cartway, if need be, & that he may build 
it by the bank adjoining thereto, & to sd mill Pond ; 
and as your Petr. conceives a House so built would 
Incommode no particular Person, but be a General 
profit to the inhabitants, as well as your Petr. He 
therefore hopes that you, gentlemen, in your Pru- 
dence will grant his Request, and your Petr. as in 
duty bound shall ever pray. 

NATHANIEL CLOSE. 
December 21st, 1767. 

The above was passed, the acting select- 
men were appointed a committee to select the 
exact site of the building, which was after- 
ward erected. 

At a Town meeting of the Inhabitants of the 
Town of Greenwich, legally warned and holden on 
the 5th day of May, 1768, this question is put to vote, 
whether this town, in conjunction with the Town 
of Norwalk, in the County of Fairfield, 'will send 
their agent to the next ensuing Assembly to prefer 
a memorial to sd Assembly, that the Court House 
and Goal in said county of Fairfield may be built 
at said Norwalk. Eesolved in the afiirmative. 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 127 

Afterwards, in tlie following October, after 
the session of the Assembly, in reference to 
the same subject the town voted, that. 

Whereas, the Town of ITorwalk, in conjunction 
with several other towns in the County of Fairfield, 
Preferred a memorial to the General Assembly, 
held at ISTew Haven, in October last, and now lyes 
before said Assembly to be heard at the adjourn- 
ment, in January next, praying that the said Town 
of ISTorwalk may be the Head or county town, &c. ; 
and whereas Mr. David Bush signed the same as 
agent, for and in behalf of said Town. It is there- 
fore now voted and agreed that this Town allows 
and approves of the said David Bush's signing said 
Memorial as agent for this Town, and he is hereby 
fully Impowered and authorised in the name and 
behalf of this town to appear and Prefer sd Memo- 
rial to a Final determination in the General As- 
sembly, and that it is the earnest Request and Desire 
of the Inhabitants of this town, that the General 
Assembly would take the matters contained in said 
memorial unto their wise consideration, and Grant 
the Prayer thereof, and that a copy of this vote may 
be used in the Tryal of sd memorial, in order to 
signifye the minds of the inhabitants of this town in 
the premises. 

In lY'ZS,— 

Further voted, the Town in sd meeting Grant 
Liberty unto David Bush, upon his Petition for 



128 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

building a mill upon sticklin's brook Sticklin's 
brook under the overseeing of a Committee by sd 
Town appointed to grind for Town Inhabitants, and 
not to put them by for strangers. Yoted in the 
affirmative. 

Edward Brush, Nehemiah Mead, and Deliverance 
Mead, Jabez Mead, jun., Nathaniel Finch and Caleb 
Mead, enters their protest on ye proceedings of sd 
meeting in sd vote. 

In 1^73, occurred the deatb of tbe Rev. 
Abrabam Todd, until whicli time lie was pas- 
tor* of the cburcli in the West Society of 
Greenwicli. For a period of more tban forty 
years he had enjoyed the confidence of his 
people, adding many to his flock. Many laugh- 
able ditties are related concerning him, which 
only show a warm heart and an innocent life. 
Unambitious and unpresuming, none of his 
people would seem to have disliked him. 

At a Town meeting, legally warned and holden 
in sd Greenwich, on the 3d Monday of March, being 
the 21st of said month, at the Town House of said 
Greenwich, Anno Dom. 1774. ' 

This Towne, Takeing into serious consideration the 
Distressed Situation and alarming Prospect That 
may occur, and in all human probability will occur, 
by Entering Into a Controversy with Mr. Penne and 
his brothers, as Joint Proprietors of the Province of 



aiStORY OF GREENWICH. 129 

Pennsylvania, for a certain claim of Lands on or 
Near ye Susqueliannah River, claimed by a com- 
pany of Purchasers, commonly called ye Susque- 
hannali Purchasers, &c., &c. ; which claim having 
never yet been prosecuted before the King in 
Council, (which we apprehend to be the only 
proper place of Decision.) "We, the said Inhabi- 
tants, &c., assembled as above, are of opinion that 
the Prosecuting said claims to said lands will be 
Tedious and expensive, and of a Dangerous Ten- 
dency to this Colony ; Not only subjecting the 
Colony considered as such to pay the Expenses of a 
litigation of a suit with Mr. Penn, but will or may 
mediately Tend to a forfeiture of those Invaluable 
Privelledges whereof we (as a Colony) are now pos- 
sess'd. It is therefore voted by this meeting, That 
Doct. Amos Mead and John Mead Esq. be and They 
are hereby appointed to Go to Middletown in Con- 
necticut, & on the last Wednesday of March In- 
stant, and there to confer with the Delegates of the 
other towns in this Colony, what is most proper to 
be done and acted in this most interesting affair. 

And further, this meeting is adjourned to the Day 
of the Freemen's meeting, in April next, and their 
Delegates now appointed are then to make report to 
their Constituents of the Doings of said Congress, 
and this meeting is accordingly adjourned to said 
Day, at 7 o'the clock. Forenoon, to the usual place 
where Town meetings are held. 

This claim to lands west of tbe settlement 
or colony of New York, was prosecuted be- 



180 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

fore the kiDg. And the convention composed 
of delegates like the above, sent Eliphalet 
Dyer as their agent to England, where he ob- 
tained the opinion of four of the most promi- 
nent lawyers of Great Britain in favor of the 
claim. They were Thurlow, Wedderbnrn, 
Kichard Jackson, and J. Dunning. After hav- 
ing received this favorable report, the legisla- 
ture appointed and commissioned Eliphalet 
Dyer, Dr. Johnson, and J. Strong, to consult 
and agree with William Penn, whether they, 
with Mr. Penn or his agents should make an 
amicable agreement, or submit the whole 
matter to the king. The commissioners went 
to Mr. Penn at Philadelphia ; but he would 
consent to nothing. The colony of Connecti- 
cut itself was divided in respect to the matter, 
and thus matters stood when the war com- 
menced. It is fortunate that Connecticut did 
so assert her right, which Congress afterwards 
recognized, and furnished her with those lands 
from the sale of which our School Fund arose. 



THE EEVOLUTIONART WAE. 

In our account of this war, so destructive to 
the property and happiness of the people of 
the town of Greenwich, we shall first transfer 



HISTORY or aEEENWICH. 131 

to our pages every fact pertaining, to be found 
upon the record books of tlie town, and then 
relate such facts and incidents as may have 
come to our knowledge by reliable tradition. 

At a Town meeting of the Inhabitants of the 
Town of Greenwich, legally warned and Holden on 
Teusday, the 11th day of October, Anno Dom. 
1774, A Letter is Read from the Honorable Elipha- 
let Dyer and Roger Sherman, Esq., from ye Conti- 
nental Congress, at Philadelphia. It is proposed to 
this meeting whether there shall be a committee ap- 
pointed to Draw a set of Resolves and an answer to 
said letter from said Congress, and to lay the same 
before the next meeting of this town for their ap- 
probation. Resolved in the affirmative, and 
DOCTOR AMOS^MEAD, 
MESSRS. JOHK MACKAY, 
" JESSE PARSONS, 

are per vote appointed a committee for the purpose 
aforesaid, on which the town per vote adjourned 
their meeting to the 17th day of Instant October, 
to the place where their annual Town meetings are 
held in said Town, 

At a meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of 
Greenwich, in the County of Fairfield, & Colony of 
Connecticut, holden on the 17th day of October, 
1774. 

This Meeting takeing into their Serious consider- 
ation the alarming State of American Liberty, do 



132 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

unanimously approve of and adopt as the Senti- 
ments of tlie Inhabitants of this Town tlie Resolves 
of the Honorable House of Representatives of this 
Colony, passed in their sessions at Hartford, in May 
last. 

And whereas Certain Acts of the British Parlia- 
ment have appeared since the above resolves were 
entered into ; Particularly an act for altering ye 
Government of Massachusetts Bay, and another 
for Establishing the Roman Catholic religion in 
Canada, &c. 

Resolved by this meeting, that those acts are re- 
pugnant to the free principles of the English Con- 
stitution, and in a High Degree Dangerous to the 
Civil and Religious Liberty of both Brittish and 
American Protestant subjects, and that notwith- 
standing the Torrent of False and malicious asper- 
sions pour'd forth by designing men. We believe 
and declare the Contrivers and Devisors of these 
and all such unconstitutional acts. Their Dupes and 
Emissaries, to be the only enemies to our Gracious 
Sovereign, and the Illustrious House of Hanover, 
that we know of in his majesty's dominions. 

Resolved, that this meeting hereby approve of the 
Honorable Congress of Delegates from the several 
American Colonies, and will acquiesce ^nd abide by 
their final determination. 

Resolved, that as the Province of Massachusetts 
Bay, especially the Town of Boston, is now sufiPer- 
ing under the Iron Hand of Despotic Power and 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 133 

ministerial Influence, it is the Indispensable duty of 
this town, in Imitation of ye noble Examples set up 
by most of the Colony to contribute to the relief of 
the oppressed and suffering Poor in said Town of 
Boston, and that Messrs. 

DAYID BUSH, 
JOHN" MACKAY, 
BENJAMIN MEAD, Jr., 
DANIEL MEBKITT, 
JAMES FERRIS, 
NATHANIEL MEAD, Jr., 
JOSEPH HOBBY, Jr., 

be a Committee to receive and keep an exact 
account of all donations that shall be Given by the 
Inhabitants of this town, and Transmit the same to 
the Select men of the Town of Boston, to be by 
them appropriated for the purpose aforesaid. 
Ordered by this meeting, that 

DOCTOR AMOS MEAD. 
MESSRS. JOHN MACKAY, 
" JESSE PARSONS, 

be Desired to write to the Honorable members of 
Congress for this Colony an answer to theirs of the 
19th ultimo, Inclosing a Copy of the Present Doings 
of this meeting, and transmit another copy thereof 
to the Printer, at New Haven, in order to be 
published. 

Recorded by me, 

JESSE PARSONS, Toim Clerh 
1 



134 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

Copy of the letter to the Delegates. 

Gentlemen, 

We acknowledge tlie receipt of your favor of the 
19th Tilt., inclosing the Resolutions of the Honor- 
able Congress, and with the Highest grattitude re- 
ceive the assurance of the earliest intelligence of 
the proceedings of your Honorable Board, as soon 
as they shall be made Public. We have called a 
meeting, and communicated to them your letter and 
those proceedings, and do now inclose their resolu- 
tions thereon. 

• We are, Gentlemen, your most obedient. Humble 
servants. 

AMOS MEAD, 
JOHN MACKAY, 
JESSE PARSONS. 

P. S. Upon enquiry into the Present State of 
the magazine of this Town, the Inhabitants are much 
surprised to find that the price of that most necessary 
article for our defence, viz., Gunpowder, is now 
doubled, which we are Desired to mention as worthy 
the notice of your Honorable Board. 
The Honorable 
Eliphalit Dyer and 
Roger Sherman, Esqs. ' 

At the same meeting it was further voted 
that " As the Town Stock of ammunition 
wants a supply, there be a Committee appoint- 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 135 

ed to examine tlie state of the Town Stock of 
Powder, Lead, &c, and tlie Selectmen are ap- 
pointed a committee for that purpose and to 
take care to supply what is wanting at the 
expense of the Town." 

On the 8th of February 1115, it was "Pro- 
posed to this meeting whether they will send 
Delegates to attend a County Congress at 
Fairfield on the 19th of February instant pur- 
suant to a letter from Fairfield Committee 
agreeable to the Association of the Continen- 
tal Congress, entered into and adopted by the 
Honorable House of Representatives of this 
Colony and said Committee to attend on their 
own expenses. Resolved in the affirmative, 
and that 

Doctor Amos Mead 
and John Mackay, 

be their Delegates for the purpose aforesaid." 
On the 3d of December of the same year 
(1'7'75), the following persons were appointed 
a '^Committee of Inspection and Safety ^ They, 
beside their duties as a Vigilance Committee, 
were empowered to appoint two or more from 
their own number to attend the next County 
Congress should any be called :■ — 



136 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

Amos Mead, 

Samuel Peck, Roger Brown, 

James Ferris, Bezaleel Brown, 

Jolin Mackay, David Wood, 

Benjamin Mead, jun. Maj. Thomas Hobby, 

Nehemiah Mead, Odell Close. 

Col. Jolin Mead. Nathaniel Mead, jmi. 

It was also, — 

Yoted, that no body of men presume to assemble 
together and go upon any expedition, unless by 
order of the Honorable the Continental Congress, 
the Honorable the General Assembly, the County 
Congress, or Committee of Safety for this town, 
either of whom are to ascertain the number and 
direct the measures. 

At a special meeting of the inhabitants of the 
Town of Greenwich, legally warned and holden on 
the 15th day of January, Anno Dom. 1776, The 
Town per vote Add to their Committee of Safety 
the following persons, viz. : — 

Israel Knapp, Jr. 
Samuel Seymour, 
John Hobby, ^ 

Messenger Palmer, and 
Peter Mead, Esq. 

In this meeting comes Jesse Hallock and pre- 
sents himself to set up the Salt Peter works in 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH, 137 

this town, on encouragement Given by act of As- 
sembly. 

Jesse Parsons, who had been the town clerk 
for many years, died on the 26th day of July, 
1776, and was succeeded in office by Col. 
Jabez Fitch, who lived at the top of Putnam's 
Hill. Bezaleel Brown was the moderator of 
several successive town-meetings about this 
date ; and Abraham Hays was frequently 
elected grand juror. Both these men dab- 
bled somewhat at the law ; and when a regular 
attorney, by name William Thompson, came 
here to practice, they laid their hitherto op- 
posing heads together to overcome him in 
their first encounter. Says Hays to Brown, 
" 'Now you argue de nice points of law, and I 
plackguard de debbel." How the case termi- 
nated is not reported ; but tradition says that 
Brown was well acquainted with law, and 
Hays really could " plackguard de debbel." 
Hays was born in Holland, and was of Jewish 
descent. 

March 11th, Anno. 177T, the town voted to send 
for the sixponnder and shot for the same, which had 
been granted to them, on account of a memorial 
addressed to the General Assembly. 



138 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

At a special Town Meeting of the Inhabitants of 
Greenwich, legally warned and held at the Town 
House in said Greenwich, on Monday the 14th day 
of April, 1777, The Town, by vote, made choice of 
Nehemiah Mead to be moderator for this present 
meeting. Further, the Town, by vote, make choice 
of Messrs. 

Titus Mead 
Nehemiah Mead, 
John Mackay, 
James Ferris, 
Enos Lockwood, 
Koger Brown, 
Daniel Merritt. 

to be a Committee to inspect into, and see that the 
Families of those who enter into the Continental 
Army, shall be supplied with the necessaries of life, 
at the prices as stated by law according to the Gov- 
ernors Proclamation. Further, this meeting will 
assist and support the ministers of Justice, in putting 
into execution the act of the Assembly respecting 
the stating prices. 

Same was repeated at the next regular town 
meeting. 

During this year, Col. Enos, of Hartford, 
was stationed in this town with Connecticut 
troops. His quarters were, during a part of 
the time at Palmer's Hill, and a part of the 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 139 

time at the old Esquire Knapp place, now 
occupied by J. K. Stearns, Esq. He, as well 
as Co]. Holdridge who followed him, is much 
complained of by the old residents. Being 
both, in the fashionable meaning of the word, 
gentlemen, they were personally the possessors 
of no courage, and at the times when they 
were most needed were of the least benefit to 
the inhabitants. Col. Welles who succeeded 
Holdridge is much better spoken of, and was 
an excellent and brave officer. The foraging 
of Col. Enos' troops was so excessive that the 
town, at a legal meeting, voted : — 

Whereas the troops of Col. Enos regiment quar- 
tered in this town, have committed great outrages 
upon the property of some of the Inhabitants of this 
town (viz.), in burning rails, cutting young growth 
of Timber, &c. Therefore, it is proposed to this 
meeting, whether they will recommend unto the 
Select men of this Town, to apply to the Field Offi- 
cers, for redress of the aforesaid grievances. Yoted 
in the affirmative. 

At a special Town meeting of the inhabitants 
of the Town of Greenwich, legally warned and 
held in said Greenwich, on Monday ye 12tli day of 
January, 1778, in pursuance of the Eequisition from 



140 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

his Excellency the Governor, of ye 16th of Decem- 
ber, 1777, communicate to the Inhabitants the Intro- 
duction to, and the Articles of Confederation & Per- 
petual Union between the States of America, that 
the sense of the Town might be known thereon, the 
town by vote made choice of Bezaleel Brown to be 
Moderator of this present meeting. The said Arti- 
cles being in said meeting deliberately read and 
considered, were by vote, Nem Con.^ {no one oppos- 
ing) accepted and approved. 

It is proposed whether this meeting is willing, 
that non-commissioned oflScer and soldier who is 
draughted and voluntarily serves in this two months 
expedition, receive a proportionable part of all the 
fines paid in consequence of said draught. Yoted 
in the affirmative, and that the Selectmen receive 
the said fines of the Town Treasurer and pay them 
out accordingly. 

Yoted that the artillery men may have the Town 
House for a guard-house, and have liberty to build 
a chimney to it, and that the Town will be at the 
cost of having Masons for that purpose. The Town, 
by vote, made choice of Bezaleel Brown to be Bar- 
rack-Master, to supply the troops with wood and 
other necessaries. Meeting then adjourned. 

On March of the same year Bezaleel Brown, 
having been made lieutenant, was again cliosen 
chairman, and the fines of the militia were 
disposed of, as the fines of the regulars had 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 141 

been disposed of at the meeting of the pre- 
ceding year. 

At a Town meeting of the Inhabitants of the 
Town of Greenwich, holden in the Town House of 
said Greenwich, on Monday the 19th day of Decem- 
ber, 1778, having made a choice of Bezaleel Brown 
for Moderator, and Jabez Fitch for Clerk, the meet- 
ing adjourned to the Meeting House. This meeting 
taking into serious consideration the danger & dis- 
tress of the inhabitants of this town, and the great 
loss and damage sustained bj many of the good 
citizens thereof, occasioned chiefly by a number of 
vile abandoned wretches, who have gone over to 
and joined the common enemy of the United States 
of America, against the laws of this State, and the 
liberties and privileges of the good people thereof. 
Thereupon, it is resolved by this meeting, that it is, 
in their opinion, dangerous to the safety, liberties. 
Peace and good Government of this town, that any 
person that hath gone over to, and joined, aided or 
assisted the common enemy of the United States, or 
taken Protection under them to remain in this town, 
or to return to it or ever be capable of obtaining 
any settlement in it. Kesolved, that is the opinion 
of this meeting that the authority and selectmen 
take all proper and legal steps to free the town of 
all such vile Miscreants. Further the town then 
voted for Capt Sylvanus Mead to be Barrack- Master 
for the year ensuing. For Messrs. — 



14:2 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

Sylvanus Mead, 
Isaac Howe, 
Reuben Rimdall, 
Abraham Mead, 
Josiah Ferris, 
Matthew Mead, 
Edmund Mead, 
to be the Committee of Safety. 

After the excursion of Gov. Tryon with his 
band of Tories to Greenwich, the people and 
the town at large were exceedingly poor. 
Continental money was much depreciated in 
value, and the town was reduced to such ex- 
tremity that every thing belonging to it was 
sold to such of the individual inhabitants as 
could afford to buy. The town-house was sold 
to Col. Mead for seven pounds lawful money, 
or if paid in continental money, eighty-four 
pounds, as one pound lawful money was equal 
to twelve in continental money. Three or 
four law-books belonging to the town were 
also sold to different citizens, as appears by the 

\ record. ~ 

H. At the close of the war, "At a special town 
meeting, &c., on the 12th day of August, 
1Y83, the town voted for Benjamin Mead, 
Esq., to be their moderator, <fec." 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 143 

The town taking into consideration tlie distress 
to which the inhabitants there are reduced by the 
war-ring and plundering of the Enemy and the 
constantly quartering of troops for the defence of 
this State in the town during the late war with 
Great Britain and the great injury done thereby 
and that it was brought to the town during the 
course of a war undertaken for the defence and se- 
curity of the common liberties of the State in which 
it was understood and expected that the whole body 
should bear the extraordinary burden and whereas 
the General Assembly did make a grant for the 
whole and make payment of a part of the damages 
done at Danbury accidentally thrown on any par- 
ticular part and considering it is altogether just to 
us, have there upon agreed and voted that Brigadier 
General John Mead be agent for the town to 
make use of such measures by memorial to the 
General Assembly or otherwise to obtain redress of 
the town grievances in this behalf and for a repair 
of the damages to the sufferers occasioned by the 
war excepting to those sufferers who are known to 
be inimical to the liberties and independence of 
the United States of America. This meeting is ad- 
journed to next Freemen's meeting day in Septem- 
ber to begin immediately after freemen's meeting is 
over. 

At a meeting of the inhabitants of the town of 
Greenwich convened in town meeting September 



144 HISTOEY OF GREENWICH. 

the 16th 1783. The inhabitants resumed the con- 
sideration of the grievances partly discussed at the 
preceding meeting and on reading a copy of the 
resolve of the Honorable General Assembly of this 
State on a memorial preferred to said Assembly 
by the representatives of this town in May last, 
the inhabitants thereby agree in the following 
propositions ; 

FifsU That the commission granted to the com- 
mittee decreed by said resolve does not empower 
said committee to enter fully into the grievances 
complained of, and damages done to the inhabitants 
during the late war (not heretofore estimated) 
as it extends only to losses and damages occa- 
sioned by the enemy but does reach the losses and 
damages occasioned by this being a garrison-town 
and its inhabitants harassed and distressed by both 
parties. 

Second^ that from the confidence that the inhabi- 
tants of this town have in the wisdom and justice of 
the Legislature of the State they are persuaded that 
nothing but the misrepresentations of some men 
either through ignorance of their real sufi'ering or 
worse motives could have induced that Honorable 
body to appoint a Committee with such limited 
powers as only warranted to consider* jjaTtially 
a subject that ought in Justice and Equity to be 
taken upon a larger scale. 

Thirdly^ That the burden of a war carried on for 
the General defence of a State whether occasioned 
by friends or foes ought to be borne as equal as 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 145 

possible by the citizens at large and that unless the 
principle is adopted and applied to the sufferings of 
the inhabitants of the town they are so far from be- 
ing on equal footing with the greater part of their 
fellow citizens in the State that the contrary must 
doom them to a species of oppression incompatible 
with the equitable maxims of legislation. 

Fonrthly^ That the inhabitants of this town do 
not entertain the most distant thought of an ex- 
emption from such part of the public burden as 
they are able to bear but when they view the pres- 
ent alarming situation of the town for want of re- 
sources occasioned by the check put upon their 
industry for years past and the powers of Provi- 
dence on their labor in permitting their crops of 
wheat on which they chiefly depended to be cut off 
this season should they under these circumstances be 
called upon for a collection of their full proportion 
of the state taxes they will be reduced to such hard- 
ships as must terminate in uncomfortable ruin to 
themselves and families ; 

Whereupon it is agreed and voted by the said 
inhabitants that Brigadier General Mead the town 
agent do pursue such means, by memorials to 
the General Assembly at the ensuing October ses- 
sion predicted on the foregoing sentiments or other- 
wise as he may judge most eligible for the purpose 
of obtaining redress of the grievances aforesaid by 
the appointment of a judicious committee invested 
with such power as the complicated distresses of 
this town evidently require or in such other way as 



146 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

the Honorable Legislature may in their wisdom 
direct. 

It was also " Resolved by this meeting that 
it is their opinion that the selectmen do not 
take bonds of any person or persons that have 
gone over to the enemy for the purpose of 
making said person or persons inhabitants of 
this town, or giving him or them a residence 
therein." 

On the 12th day of July, 1784, the people 
having passed through the troubles of the war, 
and now having some opportunity to turn 
their attention to other topics, met and pre- 
ferred the following solemn charges against 
their minister the Rev. Jonathan Murdoch 
The original copy of these charges is in the 
possession of Col. Thomas A. Mead. 

Whereas, at a meeting of the Church of Christ, in 
the West Society, hoi den at the Plouse of Mr. Ben- 
jamin Peck, in said Society, on the 12th day of 
July, 1784. The said church Voted that the Asso- 
ciation of the Western District, in FairfieM County, 
be called to meet on the 2ond Teusday of August 
next, at the house of Capt. John Hobby, in said 
Society, at 12 o'clock, at noon, then and there to 
Enquire into all matter of Difference and Grievance 
Subsisting between Mr. Jonathan Murdock, the 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 14:7 

Pastor, and the Church of Christ in this place, and 
to give their pastoral advice thereon ; and that it 
was also Yoted that Amos Mead and Benjamin 
Mead, Esqrs., be a Committee to call the said Asso- 
ciation and to lay all matters of Difference and 
Grievance before them. 

Pursuant to the above said appointment take leave 
to offer the following matters of fact as the cause of 
the Difference and Grievances subsisting between 
the said Church and the said Pastor, viz. : 

1st, with Kespect to his the said Pastor's public 
performances as a Minister of the Gospel in this 
place. 

2d, with Kespect to his conduct since he was 
settled in the Worke of the ministry in this place. 

1st, as to the first, it is the opinion of this church 
that the said Pastor hath not followed the apostolick 
advice of Studying to make himself approved, 
Kightly dividing the word of truth, &c., — for in- 
stance, in a discourse from the 13th chapter of Luke 
& the 24:tli verse, " Strive to enter in at the straight 
gate^ for I say unto yoio that many will seeh to 
enter in and shall not he ahleP In which discourse 
he said that striving and seeking meant the same 
thing, and attempted to prove it. In another sermon 
against oppression and high prices, he observed that 
it was the crying sin of the land, for which the judg- 
ments of God were on the land ; and in the close 
observed that everybody had gone into it, so that 
some must practice it, and could not live without it. 



148 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

He has lately in two sermons attempted to describe 
Evangelical Kepentance, and did it in these words, 
viz., that it consisted in an unfeigned sorrow for sin 
<^ sincere intention to forsake it. There are many 
others that might be mentioned. 

2ond. His general mode of proof has not been 
taken from the Scripture or Reason of things, But 
that he has heard so, that he believes it, and that he 
verily believes it. 

3d. That he dwells on general heads and does not 
descend into particulars, or adapt them to the Con- 
sciences of the hearers ; but so delivers himself that 
it hath been frequently observed by his hearers that 
a person might be a Deist, & not be offended, but 
join with him. 

Secondly, with Respect to his conduct since he 
was settled in the work of the ministry in this place. 

1st. That soon after he was Installed in this place 
he began to enter into a multiplicity of Business, & 
wickedly neglected his study, and has continued so 
to do to this time. 

2ond. That although he early took the Oath of 
Fidelity to this State, and in the beginning of 
the late War showed much zeal in the American 
Cause in the pulpit as well as elsewhere, yet con- 
trary to his said oath of Fidelity, in 1779, on or 
about the 10th day of July, he voluntarily went to 
a Brittish officer with a flagg then at the house late 
Seth Mead's, in this place, and there acknowledged 
his Political Friendship to the British, and that soon 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 149 

after he began to justify trade with the then enemies 
of this State, among the people in this place, and In- 
couraged it by his own example. 

3d. In May, 1780, he was (with his own consent) 
taken by Delancy's Core and Paroled, only to come 
to their lines a prisoner when called for, but under 
no restraint by his parole as to his preaching or 
prayer. Yet after that he totally neglected in public 
to pray for protection to us, Discretion to our 
Councils, or Success to our arms, to the great 
Grievance of the people here. 

4th. That he was offered an exchange, but his 
friendship to the British interest prevailed over his 
oath of Fidelity & duty to his country as well as 
people, and he refused the exchange. 

5th. That on or about the 10th of October, 1779, 
his cows were (as he said) taken from him on a 
Friday night, and on the next Sabbath he went 
after them down among the Enemy, he obtained a 
permit to take them, he found them and sold them 
and bo't British Goods with the money & brought 
the Goods into this State, contrary to law, and in 
thus doing he broke the Sabbath, set an ill example, 
and broke covenant with the church in neglecting 
his duty on the Lord's day. 

6th. In 1780, in the summer season, he frequently 
left the House of God in tbis place vacant in the 
afternoon of the Lord's day, & without the consent 
of the Church, in neglect of his duty here, went and 
preached to the separate Baptists at their place of 



150 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

worship, thereby countenancing that separation, to 
the great Greife of this Church and all the good 
people here. 

7th. In 1T80, between fore and afternoon worship 
on the Lord's day, he sent Mr. Samuel Peck, jun. 
and called Mr. Silas Mead to his house, Mr. Benja- 
min Peck being present ; he dunned him for what 
they owed him, and desired them to do the same to 
their neighbors. Yet not far from that time he 
reproved Mr. Theophilus Peck for breaking the 
Sabbath only for bringing back a sermon book in 
his pocket on the Lord's day. In other instances 
he admonished Mr. Philips, the Baptist minister, 
against marrying upon the Sabbath as a great 
Immorality, since which he has frequently practised 
it himself 

8th. He has frequently and abroad knowingly 
misrepresented and traduced this Church & society, 
in perticular Capt. Marsh, before the ordaining 
Committee at North Stamford, in declaring that 
this Society had never paid him in any thing but 
Continental money, which words so spoken, he Mr. 
Jonathan Murdock then knew were false, he himself 
being possessed of the means of knowledge that 
they were so. ^ 

9th. He has frequently, as this Church takes it, 
been guilty of the breach of the 9th command in 
denying facts and appealing in an unchristianlike 
manner to the father of lights for confirmation of 
what he said. Yiz. : — On or about the 30th o± 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 161 

April last, before the Society's meeting in tins place, 
he publicly declared that the report that lie had 
refused to settle accounts witli the people of this 
society was without foundation, groundless and 
false ; which declaration he, the said Mr. Jonathan 
Murdock, at the House of Mr. Henry Mead did in 
a publick manner make a few days before. 

10th. That the foregoing matters of Greivance 
and many more which might be mentioned have so 
disaffected the people in this place that there are 
many who have left the Society and gone over to 
and joined other denominations, and but few who 
attend Mr. Jonathan Murdock's ministry in this 
place. 

11th. That in the opinion of this church the 
breach is become so great between the said Mr. 
Jonathan Murdock & this Church & great part of 
the said Society that it can not be healed, but that 
his usefulness is at an end in this place. 

Upon these charges Mr. Murdock was heard, 
and he was dismissed, being found guilty. He 
appears to have been a man of but little mind 
and energy, and at the time when dismissed 
had no friends in the church whatever. He 
graduated at New Haven in the class of seven- 
teen hundred and sixty-six, with Dr. Timothy 
Dwight, Dr. Backus, David Ely, Dr. David 
Macclure and Dr. Nathan Strong. Soon after 



152 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

his settlement at Greenwich, he fell in love 
with Miss Ann Grigg, a bouncing girl of six- 
teen or seventeen, who was a much greater 
lover of fun than of Mr. Murdock. He per- 
secuted her with epistles of love, by bribing 
the blacks to bear his messages to her, or 
when that was impossible, by thrusting them 
under her room door. The blacks gladly car- 
ried his notes, and greatly enjoyed the reading 
of them with Miss Grigg herself. Once, on 
seeing him coming in at the door, she hid 
away in the garret, while a favorite negro 
woman politely informed Mr. Murdock that 
she, in a spirit of fun, had climbed up 
the chimney to hide from him. He, innocent 
of any thought of a joke, really believed the 
story, and put his head up the large winding 
chimney to find her. Finally raising himself 
high enough in the chimney with the greatest 
difficulty, not only found her not there, but 
also found his clothes covered with soot and 
his throat exceedingly well choked with hot 
smoke. 

He visited considerably in his parish ; and 
on a certain visit at Mr. Theophilus Peck's, 
where he was obliged on account of the dis- 
tance, to take dinner, he was much surprised 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 163 

wTien being seated at tlie table, that Mr. Peck 
did not ask Ms pastor to implore the divine 
blessing, but that Mr. Peck performed the 
duty himself, using the following words : " Oh 
Lord! we have a wolf in sheep's clothing 
amongst us. Put a hricUe in his mouth and a 
hooh in his nose^ and lead him hack to the place 
whence he earned 



INCIDENTS OF THE EEVOLUTION. 

Thus far we have given to our readers the 
simple records of the town-meetings held dur- 
ing these times so trying to true patriotism. 
At the outbreak of the war, some, from their 
loyal and religious zeal immediately sided with 
the enemy. However, they did not at that time 
openly avow their design. So little spirit 
was shown on the part of the Tories within 
the limits of the toion up to ITT 7, that a vote 
sustaining the Declaration of Independence, 
and the Continental Congress was passed in 
town-meeting without a dissenting voice. 
Yet there were disaffected ones, as the event 
proved ; and before the war was finished, ninety- 
two men had gone over to and openly joined 
the ranks of the enemy from the second society 



154: HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

alone. A complete list of tlie names of these 
is in the hands of the author, having been 
made years ago by one of the Committee of 
Safety. The number of family names in the 
list is thirty-four. And twelve of these names 
are not now to be found in the town. The 
immediate descendants of the others are but 
few, and in many instances the race is quite 
extinct. There seems to have been a doom 
upon them and their descendants. 

After the British had occupied New York, 
there arose another class of men, much worse 
than the first. This body was composed of 
certain lawless characters, who seized upon 
every opportunity for plunder with avidity. 
They committed their depredations both upon 
the Americans and their enemies. Old grudges 
contracted before the war, were now satisfied 
with relentless vigor. Hence, the Americans 
suffered most from these wretches. And inas- 
much as they did by far the greater injury to 
the Americans, they were often assisted by 
British troops to carry out their fxDul cruelties 
and barbarites, and were always sheltered by 
the enemy when hotly pressed by the citizens. 
They banded together to carry out their ne- 
farious designs. Skulking about at night in 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 155 

the woods and by-places, tliey would shoot 
down the inhabitants when they least supposed 
an enemy near. Their mode of warfare can 
only be compared with that of the Indians in 
the early history of the country. A few in- 
stances will show the refinement of blood 
thirstiness which they had attained at about 
the close of the war. 

Shubal Merritt, whose^family is now extinct, 
was one of these. With one of his boon com- 
panions, he was once lurking about the village 
of Rye for the accomplishment of some hidden 
purpose. An aged man was plowing a field 
hard by their hiding place, and as he diligently 
pursued his labors backward and forward 
across the lot, they were whiling away the 
time by playing cards. Finally, Shubal pro- 
posed a game to decide which should shoot 
the victim. The result was against Shubal, 
who, as the old man approached them slowly 
with his team, deliberately raised his musket, 
and shot him through the heart. After the 
war was over, the murderer suffered his just 
deserts. A son of his victim met him at 
White Plains, face to face, and shot him dead 
upon the spot. And so great was the feeling 
of hatred to him on the part of the citizens, 
that no notice was taken of the act. 



156 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

Dr. Amos Mead, one of the Committee of 
Safety, was so cliased and hunted by these 
men as to be obliged, with dog, horse, gun, 
and blankets, to travel about back in the 
country for a whole winter. He retraced by 
night the tracks he had made by day, and 
then moving off a short distance in another 
direction, to spend the night in the first shel- 
tered place that could be found. At the close 
of winter, he came down to look at a field of 
wheat, but when arriving at a certain point 
he turned back, deeming it unsafe to proceed 
farther. Soon after, one William Sackett, a 
refugee, met him, and told him that ^ve men 
bent on his life, had been hidden in that field 
of wheat, with their muskets all aimed at a 
certain point in the road where he must have 
passed had he proceeded onward. Sackett 
had not become so hardened but that he gave 
this timely warning, and Dr. Mead wisely 
retired again into the country. 

Among the most inveterate Tories were a 
family of the name of Knapp, living on what 
is now known as the Tracy place. One of 
them, Timothy Knapp, had been paying his 
attentions with a view to marriage, to a 
daughter of Titus Mead, then living in the 
old house, at present Mr. Solomon Mead's, a 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 167 

little northeast of the village. And on her 
refusing his hand, he proudly told her, that 
she should yet speak to him^ and he looiddin his 
turn take no notice of her. This threat was 
verified in a more terrible way than he inten- 
ded. Horses were the most valuable booty 
that the refugees could lay their hands upon 
and knowing that Mr. Mead possessed a fine 
animal, which he every night led up the oaken 
stairs to his garret, Knapp with two of his 
brothers went to the house to take it. Mr. 
Mead had knowledge of their approach, and 
stationed a man who was with him at a back 
window up stairs. It was at dusk, and when 
the three men had come to the door-step, after 
some words, Mr, Mead fired, the ball passing 
through the door and entering the heart of 
Timothy Knapp. Without waiting to see the 
result of the shot, his brothers ran off in an 
easterly direction ; and at the same time the 
man stationed by the back window sprang out 
and ran with all his might. The remaining 
refugees, seeing him, and supposing it to be 
their brother, called out, ^^ Mun^ Tini^ run^'^ 
which made him run the faster. At last, the 
daughter, opening the door and seeing Timo- 
thy lying there, asked him if he were badly 
8 , 



158 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

liurt. And lie making no answer, was found 
dead. She liad spoken to liim^ and lie had taken 
no notice of her. On finding him dead, word 
was sent to the family that his body was lying 
as it fell on the door-step. They paid no at- 
tention to the messenger ; and after the body 
had lain there for a considerable length of 
time, Mr. Mead buried it in a lot belonging to 
the Knapps in a pair of bars, where they must 
have driven over it in going out and in. 
Afterwards, the family took up the body and 
buried it close by the house where he was 
shot ; and his bones still rest there. A line of 
willow-trees now marks the spot, a little way 
south of the house. 

Many such incidents might be related, show- 
ing the disposition of this class of our enemies ; 
but a perusal of some of the incidents upon 
the succeeding pages will more fully convey a 
correct idea respecting them. 

Another class not so violent in their indi- 
vidual conduct, but equally inimical in other 
respects, were those who under gui^e of per- 
mits from the English, resided here without 
molestation from the enemy, and in return for 
this privilege, gave them sufficient and well- 
timed information of the doings of Americans 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 



169 



in tliis quarter. There were quite a large 
number of this class among us ; and we cannot 
but deplore the situation of our forefathers, 
thus situated with spies and villainous Tories 
in their midst, and ready enemies close at 
hand. 

trton's expeditioi^. 

The attack made upon Greenwich by Gov. 
Tryon, and the escape of Gen. Putnam down 
the precipice, are the most prominent incidents 
in the history of the town. And it is an ex- 
ceedingly difficult task for a historian, collect- 
ing facts merely from tradition, with the as- 
sistance of no other record than the official 
report of the commanding officer, and short 
letters written from a distant part of the 
county. An officer, when forced to retreat 
after being almost, or perhaps quite, surprised 
at an outpost, feels in duty bound to represent 
the facts in as favorable light as possible, to 
avoid discouraging the patriots fighting for 
their country. Putnam, according to his own 
account, spent but little time in the village 
while the enemy were here. And the letters 
are obviously incorrect in many prominent 
points. Here is Putnam's account : — 



1^^ HISTORY OF GEEENWICPT. 

Camp at Reading March 'Ind^ 1779. 
A detacliment from the enemy at King's brido-e 
consisting of the 14:th, 44th and 57th British regi- 
ments, one of the Hessians and two of the new 
levies, marched from their lines for Horseneck on 
the evening of the 25th, ult. with the intention of 
surprising the troops at that place, and destroying 
the salt works. 

A captain and thirty men were sent from our 
advance lines from Horseneck, who discovered the 
enemy at JSTew-Rochelle in advance. They retired 
before them undiscovered as far as Ryeneck where 
It growing light, the enemy observed and attacked 
them. They defended themselves as well as posi- 
ble and made their way good to Sawpitts where 
they took advantage of a commanding piece of 
ground and made some little stand, but the superior 
force of the enemy obliged them to retire over By- 
ram bridge, which they took up and by that means 
had an opportunity of reaching Horseneck in 
safety. 

As I was there myself to see the situation of the 
guards, I had the troops formed on a hill by the 
meeting house, ready to receive the enemy as they 
advanced. They came on briskly and \ soon dig- 
covered that their design was to turn our flanks and 
possess themselves of a defile in our rear, which 
would effectually prevent our retreat. I therefore 
ordered parties out on both flanks with directions to 
give me information of their approach, that we 



HISTOKY OF GREENWICH. 161 



mioht retire in season. In tlie meantime a column 
advanced up tlie main road, where the remainder 
of the troops (amounting to only about sixty), were 
posted. We discharged some old field pieces which 
were there, a few times, and gave them a small fire 
of musketry, but without any considerable efi'ect ; 
the superior force of the enemy soon obliged our 
small detachment to abandon the place. 

I therefore directed the troops to retire and form 
on a hill a little distance from Horseneck, while I 
proceeded to Stamford and collected a body of 
militia, and a few continental troops which were 
there, with which I returned immediately, and 
found that the enemy, (after plundering the inhabi- 
tants of the principal part of their efi'ects, and destroy- 
ing a few salt works, a small sloop and a store,) 
were on their return. The officer commanding the 
continental troops stationed at Horseneck, mistook 
my orders and went much farther than I intended, 
so that he could not come up with them to any ad- 
vantage. I, however, ordered the few troops that 
came from Stamford to pursue them thinking they 
might have an opportunity to pick up some strag- 
glers. In this I was not mistaken, as your Excel- 
lency will see by the enclosed list of prisoners. 
Besides these eight or nine more were taken and 
sent off, so that I cannot' tell to which particular 
reo-iments they belonged, one ammunition and one 
baggage wagon were taken. In the former there 
were about two hundred rounds of canister, grape 



162 HISTORY OF GEEENWICH. 

and round shot, suited to three pounders, some slow 
matches, and about two hundred tubes ; the latter was 
filled with plunder, which I had the satisfaction of 
restoring to the inhabitants from whom it was taken. 
As I have not yet got a return, I cannot tell exactly 
the number we lost, though I don't think more than 
ten soldiers, and about that number of inhabitants, 
but a few of which were in arms. 

List of Prisoners taken at Horseneck on the 2Uh. 

ult. 17th Kegiment, 15 privates ; 44th do. 

5 privates, 57th do. 3 privates. Loyal American 
Eegiment 5, Emmerick Corps 8. First battallion 
of Artillery 1, Pioneers 1.— Total 38. 

iT. B. Seven deserters from Emmerick^ s corps. 

The following is from Barber's Historical 
Collections of Connecticut, being extracts from 
two letters from Fairfield county, dated March 
1st, 1779, four days after the occurrence: — 

The enemy have made an excursion within four 
miles of Stamford, by the best accounts of about 
1400 or 1500,- under the command of Gov. Tryon ; 
they reached Horseneck on Friday morniyg about 
9 o'clock ; at Stamford they were not alarmed till 
ten o'clock, notwithstanding the enemy was discov- 
ered at 9 o'clock the preceding evening by a small 
guard of continental troops at East Chester, under 
the command of Capt. Titus Watson, who were 
obliged to give way though they fought on their 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 163 



retreat, and some of tlieni were wounded and taken 
prisoners. Capt. Watson was closely pursued by a 
lio-ht horseman whom he had the good fortune to 
kill, and by the ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ made 
his escape. Gen. Putnam was accidentally at 
Stamford, but the continental troops were too much 
scattered to be collected in season to oppose the ene- 
my. About 200 militia, and a few continental 
troops, fell in with the enemy's rear, just as they 
were leaving Horseneck about the middle of the 
afternoon, who killed eight or ten of them, and took 
about fifty prisoners, who had made too free with 
the liquor they had plundered. They destroyed a 
small salt work, and burnt a schooner which lay at 
Mianos creek. They plundered the inhabitants of 
every thing they could lay their hands on, broke 
windows, &c. and many families are stript of every 
thing but the clothes they had on; even the 
house where Gov. Tryon had his head quarters was 
not spared. They retreated to Rye on Friday even- 
ing, and next day to Kings bridge. Their retreat 
was so precipitate, that they left behind two wagons 
loaded with plunder. 

From the above reports, and from twenty 
or more different accounts, some of which 
have been handed down by the hottest of the 
Tories, and some by over-zealons Americans, 
we have arranged the following account of 
the expedition, as being the most consistent 



164: HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

and reliable. It is necessary that we should 
contradict some accounts, and even dispute 
some of the facts stated by Gen. Putnam him- 
self. We ask all, therefore, who would relate 
the matter in a different manner, to look upon 
our account in a spirit of leniency, remember- 
ing that where there is so much disagreement 
all cannot be right. 

The headquarters at this time were at the 
house of Captain John Hobby. Col. Hol- 
dridge, of the vicinity of Hartford, an officer 
much disliked by the Americans, was in com- 
mand of the outj)ost. The house was situated 
a few feet south of the one now occupied by 
Henry M. Benedict, Esq. And a small guard- 
house was erected in the corner of the yard, 
but a few feet south of Mr. Benedict's western 
entrance, close by the side of the street, of 
which the carriage path ran more than its 
width farther south than it now does. 

Some say that this out-post was at the house 
of the late John J. Tracy ; but this was a hot- 
bed of Toryism. And further, those giving 
this account say that Putnam arose from the 
breakfast table, sprang upon his horse and 
rode for Stamford ; in which case he could 
have given no orders to the men who were 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 



165 



drawn up by tlie meeting-house ; whicli lie in 
fact did. We therefore take this account to 
be a mistake. 

On the evening of the 25th of February, 
1119, Gen. Putnam was at Horseneck, quar- 
tered with the picket guard, where it was his 
custom to come almost every day to gain m- 
formation of the doings of the enemy below. 
That evening a ball was held at the house of 
Moses Husted, Pecksland, on the same site 
where is now the residence of William A. 
Husted, Esq. Putnam attended, taking a 
lady on his horse behind him, according to 
the custom of those days. This lady, after- 
wards Mrs. Kogers, was a daughter of David 
Bush, of Coscob, living in the same house now 
occupied by George J. Smith, Esq. It was 
late when he accompanied her home, so that 
he did not leave her father's residence for 
Horseneck until nearly daylight on the morn- 
ing of the 26th. This fact has led many to 
suppose that his headquarters were at Coscob, 
which is evidently a mistake. 

The day before (the 25th), a small company 

of the Continental light horsemen, under Capt. 

Titus Watson, consisting of about thirty men, 

liad been ordered forward by Putnam to 

8* 



166 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 



observe the doings of the enemy. They went 
down nearly as far as New Kochelle, where 
between eight and nine o'clock in the evening 
they found the enemy approaching with De- 
lancy's body of Tories in the van. The Conti- 
nentals retired before them, but were discov- 
ered and come up with. By reason of superior 
numbers they were defeated, and many of 
them were killed. The enemy drove them 
from the stage road down into Milton, where 
they managed to keep away from their pursu- 
ers, crossing the heads of the creeks, many of 
them hiding in the swamps. A few of them, 
with Capt. Watson, succeeded in reaching 
Byram bridge, which they had time to take 
up when their pursuers were just in sight. 
Watson with one or two others then rode 
directly to Horseneck, with the company of 
Tories in full pursuit. Five of them turned 
southward and were pursued by a body of the 
enemy, who came up with one of the fugitives 
in the lot recently excavated by the New York 
and New Haven Eailroad Company, now 
owned by Capt. Caleb W. Merritt. The 
soldier was there shot down and the horse in- 
humanly butchered, from which the inclosure 
has since been known as the " Jiorse loV The 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 



167 



other four succeeded in reaching the Myanos 
in safety, where they were set across by Daniel 

Banks. 

The alarm was given to the picket guard by 
Capt. Watson, but there was little or no time 
to prepare for defense. The enemy had been 
informed of the weakness of the outpost and 
advanced steadily for it. Mr. Matthew Mead, 
then a boy of twelve, was back of his father's 
house, where Mr. Bush Mead now lives, when 
he saw them at the top of the hill by Horse- 
neck brook. His father sent him off with the 
other children and the cattle, back in the lots, 
where he reached a place of safety. The 
Americans, warned by Capt. Watson, number- 
ing, according to the various accounts, from 
one to two hundred, having no cavalry, formed 
in front of the meeting-house and fired a six- 
pounder three times, which was a signal of 
alarm, just as the Tories passed the house of 
Mr. Matthew Mead. They then were walking 
their horses, but when they came in sight of 
Capt. John Hobby's they saw Putnam spring 
on his horse at the barn with his coat on his 
arm and ride with full speed to the meeting- 
house, where the Americans were drawn up. 
They now gave him full chase. He stopped a 



168 HISTOKY OF GREENWICH. 

moment to order his men to retreat to a con- 
venient distance, while lie should ride on to 
Stamford for reinforcements. Being nearly 
come up with, lie daslied on ; and by the 
time he reached the precipice now known as 
Putnam's hill, the commander of the Tories, 
Thomas Merritt, of Westchester county, was 
within two lengths of him. 

The road, before reaching the brink of the 
precipice, then ran nearly east and west, then 
turning a short right angle ran north about 
thirty rods, when it turned directly about and 
ran south along under the precipice to about 
five rods below the causeway forming the 
present road, where it again turned eastward. 
Putnam plunged his horse down this steep, 
which being overgrown with stinted bushes 
presented a wild appearance, at a headlong 
pace across the road at the foot of the hill into 
the thicket which then lay between the post 
road and the swamp now known as the '' Ten 
Acres," and pursuing a sort of drift-path 
through the thicket till he was beyond the 
present residence of Theodore H. Mead, Esq., 
where he again took to the road. The hill 
now presents a totally difi:erent aspect from 
what it formerly did. And the hardest part 



HISTOEY OF GREENWICH. 169 

of Putnam's descent was after lie crossed tlie 
road running along tlie side of the hill. 

Some will have it, that he started down the 
hill from the same point but took a south- 
eastern course, reaching the road at the foot 
of the stone steps, where the enemy had full 
aim at him all the while. Others, that he 
rushed headlong down the seventy-four stone 
steps, placed roughly one above another for 
the convenience of foot passengers, his weight 
being two hundred and forty pounds. Others, 
again, claim that he followed the road as long 
as it ran on the top of the hill, and then set 
off in a northeastern direction above the Ten 
Acres. While the author has been coolly told 
that he was in no danger of being taken at 
all, and rode slowly around the hill as other 
people did. We have carefully traced and 
examined these different accounts, and have the 
fullest evidence that the account first given is 
correct, by the testimony of eye witnesses. 
One of the many balls fired at him by the 
Tories from the brink of the hill as he passed 
through the bushes, passed through his hat. 
Old Put on this occasion could not refrain 
from his customary exclamation when in 
trouble from the Tories, which he shouted as 



170 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

the balls whistled thickly past him, " God 
cuss ye; lolien I catch ye Til Jiang ye to the 
next treeP 

Col. Holdridge, who was in command of the 
continental soldiers, retreated in an unsoldier- 
like manner to Stanwich, while Putnam only 
intended that he should retire a short distance. 
From the account given of this officer, who 
was a Hartford man, by the Americans, he was 
totally unfit to be a soldier at all, and much 
less an officer. 

The citizens hung about the village as near 
as they dared, hiding in the swamps and by- 
places during the whole day, taking advantage 
of every opportunity, by some daring feat, to 
secure prisoners, and even fire upon the enemy. 

About an hour after the arrival of the body 
of Tories, Gov. Tryon with his full force of 
about twelve hundred men, took full posses- 
sion of the town. He made his quarters at 
the house of Mr. Henry Mead, who then kept 
a public house on the present site of the res- 
idence of Miss Sarah Lewis and Mrs. Mason. 
The soldiers, meantime, sepai-ated themselves 
into squads, and pillaged every house in the 
neighborhood ; a large body of them visited 
Coscob, where they destroyed the salt-works 



HISTORY OB" GREENWICH. 171 

which were upon Bush's Point, a small sloop, 
and a sloop's store-house. 

A party of them also entered the house of 
Daniel and Joshua Smith, which was situated 
a little way south of the present parsonage of 
the Second Congregational Society. They 
found this house deserted by all its inhabitants, 
excepting a deaf old lady, the mother-in-law 
of Joshua Smith. As they entered they saw 
her standing at the head of the front stairs. 
As she could not hear, she disobeyed their 
orders to come down ; which so enraged the 
soldiers that one of them sprang up stairs 
and cut her down with his sword. After this 
murder, the house was set on fire and burned 
to the ground. This is said to have been the 
only house wholly burned by the British. 

The houses of those who held the enemy's 
permits were safe from these depredations, 
but the others were ransacked and plundered 
of every valuable. The wagons brought to 
carry back the plunder were filled to their 
utmost capacity. After that, every thing was 
destroyed. The farmers made granaries of 
their garrets ; and the enemy, after cutting 
holes through the garret and main-floors, 
shoveled all the grain into the cellars, where 



172 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

the cider barrels were knocked in, and all 
mingled in one useless mass. 

The cider, however, was not all permitted 
to run upon the ground ; but by the middle of 
the afternoon, nearly all the privates had be- 
come so drunken with it, as to be unfit for the 
least defense. And so little guard was kept 
by the enemy, that an American crept slyly 
into the orchard by the Henry Mead house, in 
the midst of the enemy, and fired a ball through 
the clapboards, which whistled close by Gov. 
Tryon's head and struck the mantle-piece, from 
which it rebounded upon the floor. This 
startled Tryon so much that he, without wait- 
ing for his late dinner, gave immediate orders 
for a retreat. The officers now experienced 
the greatest difficulty in forming their men. 
Many were beastly drunk, and a great number 
made irregular marches, so that the Greenwich 
men managed to take several prisoners. 
Though several shots were fired ^t the enemy 
before, their first man was killed in the road 
opposite the cedar-tree, a little west of the 
house of William Knapp. Others were 
wounded, and the enemy was in a full and 
disorderly retreat. The Americans so hotly 
pressed upon their rear, that the drivers cut 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH, 173 

their horses loose from an ammunition and a 
plunder-wagon, and rode off after their com- 
panions at full speed. The Americans had just 
taken possession of them when Gen. Putnam, 
with between one and two hundred conti- 
nentals and militia, arrived from Stamford, too 
late to render any assistance to the inha- 
bitants. 

This was an eventful day for Greenwich. 
Houses though not burned were ruined, and 
in the midst of winter. All provision had 
been destroyed by the hostile army. And 
the Tories, from that time for about a year, had 
an almost complete mastery of the town. It 
is absolutely impossible to depict the miseries 
of the people who, loving the American cause, 
were obliged to stay here until the next 
season. 

It seems that Putnam, as well as the inhab- 
itants, supposed from the large number of 
the enemy, they were to proceed farther on, 
to Stamford and Norwalk. Hence, Col. Mead 
early dispatched Mr. Titus Mead to New 
Haven to ask of Gen. Silliman reinforcements. 
The messenger arrived at New Haven a little 
before six that evening, and Gen. Silliman im- 
mediately issued his orders. The following is 



174 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

a copy of tlie one sent to Woodbury, taken 
from Cothren's History of Woodbury : — 

New Haven Feby 26th 1779, 6PM 
Gent. — Mr. Titus Mead, a man to be depended 
on, is this moment arriv'd express from Col. Mead, 
with a message by word of mouth only, from Col. 
Mead. For their circumstances were such that Col. 
Mead could not write. He says when he left Horse- 
neck (which was early this morning) a Body of 
about 600 men and a Body of Horse, had pushed 
up the road into Horseneck, and were on this side 
of Knap's tavern ; and it was reported that a Body 
of two or three thousand more were not far behind. 
You are therefore directed to muster & march 
your Regiments, forthwith to Norwalk to oppose the 
enemy, & where you will receive further Orders, 
loose not a moment neither by ISTight nor day. 
G. SELLECK SILLIMAN, 
Brigr Genl of foot and Col. Ct of Horse* 
To Col. Mosely & Major Bull, Woodbury, 

Of course, the early retreat of the enemy 
rendered the execution of this command of 
no avail. 

The Tories now soon became possessed of 
the entire town. Their headquarters were a 
part of the time at the house of Mr. Abraham 
Mead, where Mr. Oliver Mead now resides. 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 175 

This now being the neutral ground, was plun- 
dered by both friends and foes ; and poor and 
sickening indeed was the lot of those who were 
obliged to stay here. 



rivington's press. 

Some time during the war, a paper was 
published in the city of New York by one 
Eivington. This paper was professedly, and 
to all outward appearance, devoted to the 
British interests. It was afterwards, how- 
ever, known to have aided the Americans 
much, and was under the control of Washing- 
ton himself. The hostile appearance of the 
sheet, however, deceived the Americans as well 
as their enemies. And about a half-dozen Green- 
wich men resolved that the press should be 
stopped ; and they stole into the city, destroyed 
the press, and bagged the type, which they 
brought off with them, from the very midst 
of a watchful enemy. Messrs. Andrew and 
Peter Mead were the principal men of the 
expedition. It is said that they only of the 
company were able to carry the bags of type 
from the printing-office to the street, and throw 
them across the backs of their horses. After 



176 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

the type was brought to Greenwich it was 
totally destroyed, except enough to print each 
of the company's names, which the veterans 
kept for a long time in memory of their ex- 
ploit. 

EXPEDITIONS ON THE SOUND. 

While the enemy were in New York, their 
vessels had almost complete command of the 
waters of the Sound. There were, however, 
many daring men engaged in a sort of priva- 
teering against them. Their hazardous ex- 
ploits have formed the basis of many an 
exciting tale, written by eminent authors, and 
read by the American people of the present 
day with great avidity. For a considerable 
period during the war. Captain Andrew Mead 
and Elnathan Close, of Greenwich, with quite 
a large number of men, were engaged in this 
business, and with great annoyance to the 
enemy. They went upon their expeditions 
provided with large w^haleboats, which might 
easily be hidden in the smaller bays along the 
coast and glide through shallow waters in 
escaping or attacking the enemy. 

In one of their expeditions, they proceeded 
by night to Ferry Point and seized upon a 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 177 

small store vessel of tlie enemy, and brought 
lier off with them. Slie was anchored in a 
small inlet known as Chimney Corner. The 
prize was so valuable a one, that the enemy 
pursued them with one of their war vessels. 
The enemy anchored off Chimney Corner, at 
a short distance from the shore. But the peo- 
ple collected for the defense of the prize, and 
fired upon them from behind a knoll with a 
six-pounder, which was the only large gun in 
the town. Their first shot struck upon the 
deck of the pursuers, and wounded a dog, as 
was supposed from his sudden and vehement 
yelping. Other shots were fired, and replied 
to by the enemy's guns. But finding it im- 
possible to retake the vessel or damage the 
people upon the shore, the British relinquished 
their efforts and made sail. Mr. Andrew 
Mead was wounded on this occasion in both 
arms. As they were boarding the vessel at 
Ferry Point, he first leaped upon her deck 
and received two shots, one in either arm, 
from the two marines on guard, who, so still 
had been the approach, then perceived the 
attack for the first time. This had been made, 
however, by two divisions of the force on the 
opposite sides of the vessel. Captains Mead 



178 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

and Close simultaneously mounted the sides 
of tlie vessel, and wliile Mead was wounded, 
Close and his division soon had possession of 
the decks, and the force below quickly sur- 
rendered with but little resistance. 

Soon after this, the same body of men, under 
Elnathan Close, went down into Cow Bay and 
there seized upon a vessel, and had brought 
their prize off Hempstead, when the wind 
died away and the tide drifted her fast toward 
the Long Island shore, which was in the full 
possession of the British. Boats were sent 
from the shore for the rescue. No alternative 
remained but to relinquish the prize and seek 
personal safety. This was accomplished by 
all the Americans except one. Smith Mead, 
who, either from chance or choice, remained 
on board and was taken prisoner. Many sup- 
posed this to have been willingly done on the 
part of the prisoner, as he was soon after found 
fighting upon the other side. He fought on 
either side, whenever and wherever' it appears 
to have been to his interest to do so. He was 
one of those who drove off the cattle of Abra- 
ham Mead from Field Point, and after the war 
was over had the boldness to solicit the aid of 
the same family in procuring a pension. Al- 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 179 

thougli this was refused, lie did, finally, obtain 
one tlirough others. 



SKIRMISH BEYOND KING STREET. 

One great disadvantage wliicb. tlie people 
were subjected to during tlie wliole war, was 
tlie absolute want of bayonets. Few compa- 
nies could be found wholly armed with these 
valuable weapons. But Lieut. Mosher was 
the commander of a small company of men, 
who were amply provided with them. This 
company may have been larger, but consisted 
of but eighteen soldiers at the time here men- 
tioned. Seven of them were from the farm 
of Gen. Pierre Van Cortland of Cortlandtown, 
about half-a-dozen of them from Greenwich, 
and the remainder from the vicinity of the 
town of Harrison. On the 4th of December 
1781 (Heath's Mem. p. 324), Captain Kichard 
Sackett of the same company was taken pris- 
oner, having unwisely separated himself from 
his company. The light horse of the enemy, 
under Col. Holmes (a Tory) and Capt. Kipp, 
attacked the company. The latter retreated 
to the vicinity of a tavern recently kept by 
William Merritt, in King street, where they 



180 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

formed, to witlistand tlie charge of the troop of 
horse. Without shelter of any kind, and 
upon an open plain, these eighteen men suc- 
cessfully stood charge after charge from the 
troop. Lieut. Mosher ordered his men not to 
fire a shot, but sternly to await the onset. At 
the first charge, Col. Holmes, finding himself 
repulsed, ordered Mosher to surrender or he 
would cut them all to pieces. The only reply 
vouchsafed by Mosher was, " Cktt and he 
damned j'''' and with silence he withstood the 
first and second charges. But after the third 
charge he ordered his men to fire on the retir- 
ing troops, which they did with terrible execu- 
tion. One man Avas killed, and eight dangerous- 
ly wounded, Capt. Kipj), mortally. The horses 
of Col. Holmes and Capt. Kipp, were also killed 
under them. Mosher's men taking advantage 
of the discomfiture of their assailants escaped 
to a neighboring piece of woods, not having a 
man even wounded. It is said to have been 
the most astonishing feat, on the part of both 
the officers and men, that was enacted during 
the whole war. Gen. Washington often spoke 
of this afiair; and it was reported all over 
Europe, to show the utility of the bayonet, 
and that a small body of infantry thus armed 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 181 

may successfully resist a strong body of cav- 
alry. Several of the enemy were severely 
wounded, before they were fired upon. 



THE ENE:MY's excursion to :N^ORTn STAMFOED. 

At one time during the war, the nearest 
American outpost to ISTew York in this quar- 
ter, was at Byram. And the enemy being 
bent upon a depredatory expedition to North. 
Stamford and Long Kidge, came suddenly in 
the night and cut every one of the guard to 
pieces. The next guard in their way was 
posted at the site of a house now occupied by 
Mr. Hancock at the right angular turn of the 
road leading to Pecksland. Here they also 
cut the guard to pieces, after having surroun- 
ded the house. This whole expedition seems 
to have been marked by bloody and horrible 
deeds ; and it is said that Tarleton himself 
commanded the force. The whole pojDulace 
around collected and followed the enemy, to 
attack and worry them on their retreat. An 
ambuscade was formed at a defile in Round 
Hill near the residence of Eoswell Mills, Esq., 
where the road passes through steep rocks 
overgrown with thick laurel. At other places 

9 



182 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

on their return tlie Britisli and Tories were 
sorely pressed, but here a deadly fire poured 
in upon them killing and wounding great num- 
bers. On that day in the retreat, one of their 
regiments lost their standard, to their great 
mortification and disgrace. 



AI^DEEW MEAD, HUMPHREY DENTON, AND 
EICHAED MEAD. 

These men, more, perhaps, than any others, 
deserve the highest praise for their brave and 
daring acts. It was not so much their prov- 
ince to counsel and advise as to act. " Old 
men for counsel and young men for actionP 
Such men as Dr. Amos Mead, John Mackay, 
and Abraham Mead, were of great service to 
the inhabitants as counselors. They were 
past the meridian of life. And one of them. 
Dr. Amos Mead, had gained much experience 
by active service in the French war. But was 
any daring deed to be accomplished, where 
hardy, brave, and reliable men were necessary, 
the three former were always selected. After 
all control of the town was lost by the Am- 
ericans, by the destructive expedition of Gov. 
Tryon, it was not safe for a patriot to remain 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 183 

publicly in the limits for an lioiir. Yet tliese 
three hung about the place, ready to assist the 
defenseless j)opulation against the brutalities 
of the Tories. Each possessed of his arms, a 
faithful dog, and a fleet horse, they spent their 
time about the village, hidden in the by and 
secret places. The winter of 1780, was one 
of the severest on record. The Sound was 
frozen across, and a great amount of snow ac- 
cumulated. Yet these men scarcely knew a 
night, during the early part of that winter, in 
which they did not sleep with their horses and 
dogs among the snow. During that winter, some 
dozen or twenty head of cattle, the most of 
which belonged to Mr. Jerad Mead, were taken 
off in haste by the Tories, and driven towards 
JSTew York. After much earnest solicitation 
on the part of the owner, the trio consented 
to make the most daring attempt of crossing 
the enemy's lines to retake them. There 
had been recently a storm of rain, which had 
frozen as it fell and rendered the roads ex- 
tremely slippery, and made a hard sharp crust 
upon the snow. The pursuers, therefore, went 
upon the sound with their horses, and kept the 
ice as far as Mamaroneck, and then taking the 
road could track the cattle by the blood which 



184 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

Had trickled from the wounds of tlie bayonets 
■wHch had forced them along. At Mount 
Vernon they retook the cattle, and were re- 
turning when they found they were pursued 
by a body of the enemy under a lieutenant. 
Their horses were tired by their swift ride, 
and they soon knew that their only safety was 
in separation ; and in that case even, one must 
be inevitably taken. Accordingly, they left 
the cattle and plunged separately in different 
directions. The enemy selected Richard Mead, 
pursued and took him prisoner. This was 
about the middle of January, 1Y80. He was 
taken to New York and thrown into the 
famous Sugar House, where he remained for a 
period of six weeks until exchanged. 

These three men were held in high estima- 
tion by the people. Their known patriotism 
and courage, which could ever be relied on, 
caused the other citizens, long after the Revo- 
lutionary war, to remember their acts with the 
greatest gratitude. ' 

Other facts might be recited and incidents 
given. Many, beside Richard Mead, found 
their way as prisoners to the Jersey Prison 
Ship, the Provost, and the Sugar House ; but 
we should swell the bounds of this volume to 



HISTOKY OF GREENWICH. 



185 



a greater extent tlian we intended, sliould we 
make further narrations. 



MILL AND DOCKS AT MIANUS. 

Greenwich October 5th 1787. 

Whereas application hatli been made to the Se- 
lectmen of said Greenwich by William, John, 
Samuel and Daniel Titus owners of the mills lately 
carried off by a freshet from Myanos Eiver in said 
Greenwich, to call a town meeting that the inhabi- 
tants may take into their consideration the propo- 
sals made by the said Tituses, provided the town 
give them liberty and a grant to build mills on that 
part of Myanos river where Purdy began a dam 
across near Capt. Nathaniel Peck's in said Green- 
wich, which proposals are as followeth ; 

1st. The said mills to be built on said Purdy's old 
dam under the same restrictions as to grinding for 
the public as the mills above were. 

2ond. To lay out public landings each side of the 
river below the new built dam as far as may be 
deemed necessary for the use of the public and to 
erect and keep in repair a sufficient dock on each 
side of the river, which shall be done by them their 
heirs and assigns as long as they or any of them oc- 
cupy said mills. 

3d. The Flood-gate shall be so constructed as to 
open something in the form of a field gate for the 



186 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

convenience of vessels and a crane shall be erected 
for the purpose of hoisting boats and swinging them 
over the dam by the said Tituses their heirs, and as 
in the second article. 

4th. The J will also erect a good and sufficient 
horsebridge across said river and keep it in repair 
on or near said dam and likewise a good scow will 
be kept in the mill-pond for the use of the public at 
all times, thej giving one day's notice previous to 
the wanting of it. Wherefore and with the advice 
of the civil authority of said Town, notice is hereby 
given and the inhabitants of the town of Green- 
wich are hereby warned to attend a town meeting 
at tlie meeting-house in the West Society in said 
Greenwich on Monday the fifteenth instant October 
at two o'clock in the afternoon for the purpose of 
considering and discussing and granting or voting 
any thing relative thereto, that they shall judge ex- 
pedient, and the said John, Samuel and Daniel, 
with the assistance of Col. Thomas Hobby, Jonah 
Ferris, Nathaniel Mead, Jonathan Coe and Abra- 
ham Hays are hereby empowered to notify all the 
inhabitants by reading to the legal voters in the 
hearing of their families. 

At the meeting, — 

The foregoing petition was read and discussed 
and the meeting voted to grant the prayer of the 
petitioners with these alterations and restrictions — 



HISTORY OF GEEENWICH. 187 

That instead of a horse and foot bridge mentioned 
in the petition, the petitioners are to erect and main- 
tain a sufficient cart bridge across said river which 
together with the mills and other articles enumerated 
in their propositions are to be completed within four 
years from the date of tliis grant, and that Messrs. 
John Mackay, Jabez Fitch and Seth Palmer (the 
present selectmen) with Messrs. Samuel Peck, Sam- 
uel Lockwood jr. Nehemiah Mead, Abraham Mead, 
and William Bush be a committee to covenant with 
the petitioners in behalf of the town for the purpose 
of conveying the right of this town to the premises 
unto the petitioners and to ascertain the dimen- 
sions of the landing places proposed in said petition 
and that said committee go out at the expense of the 
petitioners, and that what said committee or the 
major part of them shall covenant and contract in 
behalf of this town shall stand good and firm as if 
the same were done at this meeting, and that should 
the petitioners fail in their engagements with said 
committee, the privileges hereby granted to them 
will revert to the town. 



Protest. 

The following persons protest against the proceed- 
ings of this meeting with respect to said town grant- 
ing away the privileges of Myanos river to the 



188 HISTORY OF GEEENWICH. 

Messrs. Titus to set a mill on agreeable to their re- 
quest by petition. 
Dated this October 15th 1787. 

MESSEISTGEK PALMEE, 
DANIEL KEYNOLDS, 
SETH PALMEE, 
PETEE GAUFF, 
JOHN W. PALMEE, 
STEPHEN MAESHALL, 
DENHAM PALMER, 
JEEEMI^H EUNDLE, 
STEPHEN PALMEE, 
JOHN PALMEE. 

On tlie 12t]i of November, 1787, a meeting 
was held to elect delegates to a convention to 
be holden at Hartford on the first Thursday of 
tlie following January, to ratify or disapprove 
of the Constitution recommended by tlie 
Federal convention. The election was by bal- 
lot, and tlie result of tbe election was tLe ap- 
pointment of 

Dr. Amos Mead, * 

Col. Jabez Fitch 

as sucli delegates. It was voted by tlie inhab- 
itants of the town, to " approve the doings 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 189 

of the Federal convention lately lield at Phil- 
adelphia, and thereupon direct their delegates 
to use their influence in the convention to be 
holden at Hartford on the first Thursday of 
January next, to establish and ratify the Con- 
stitution recommended by the said Federal 
convention." 

In 1^93, the town by a strong vote indicated 
its opposition to the proposition of the legis- 
lature to sell the western lands to create a fund 
for the support and benefit of the clergy. The 
prompt rebuke which this and other towns 
gave to this legislature, saved us from a sort of 
established religion, and gave us our present 
school-fund. The resolution of the town against 
the proposal of the legislature was passed with- 
out an opposing vote. 

In 1802, a proposition to build a town-house 
was voted down. 

In 1803, Elkanah Mead and Jabez Fitch 
were sent as agents to the Assembly at ISTew 
Haven, to oppose the proposed Turn|)ike road. 
Their opposition had little or no effect. 

About this time the town was payiug from 
twenty to twenty-five dollars yearly, for the use 
of the meeting-house where they held their 
meetings. 

9* 



190 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 



THE WAR OF 1812. 



It is believed that Greenwich, on her own 
land at least, lost no killed, wonnded or mis- 
sing during this war. Still many of the good 
people of the town became too much alarmed 
on certain occasions, to furnish much evidence 
of their personal daring and valor. This war 
was declared in June, 1812. In the spring of 
the following year. Commodore Hardy, with 
a British fleet appeared off the eastern end of 
Long Island, and for a length of time had 
almost complete control of the waters of the 
Sound. Many vessels were burned or sunk 
by the enemy. And they pushed through the 
Sound almost or quite to Throgg's Neck. 
During the season, an eastern sloop was chased 
by one of the enemy's vessels, and run ashore 
on Hog Island ; although there was a great 
sufficiency of time for the crew to have run 
her safely into Rocky Neck harbor, where she 
could have been protected by the force upon 
our shores. The British, having taken pos- 
session of the sloop set her on fire, with her 
sails all set in the same position in which she 
had been run ashore. 

At this time the people were greatly alarmed, 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 191 

lest tlie enemy should attempt to land. The 
Pot-pie company of Horseneck was posted 
upon Field Point; the Coscob company of 
militia on Capt. Noah Mead's Point, and a 
company from North Stamford guarded Green- 
wich Point. 

During one of the nights when these points 
were so guarded, Capt. Elijah Keynolds un- 
dertook to bring his vessel round from Bush's 
harbor into the Myanos river. Being seen and 
well known from Field Point, he was permit- 
ted to pass out. But the sentry at the mouth 
of the Myanos, having hailed him to no pur- 
pose, and supposing it might be an enemy, 
fired upon him. However, lying close to his 
deck, he passed on, appearing to take no notice 
of his challengers. One of the sentries, Mr. 
Peter Horton, now supposed it to be a real 
live British vessel, and throwing down his gun, 
and calling upon his locomotive powers, cried, 
'' Now legs ! if you ever did your duty^ do it 
noiD ! " It is gravely said by those who heard 
and saw him, that he tore down three rows ol 
standing corn, in making his exit from the 
place of danger. 

Mr. Bush Mead, one of the Horseneck com 
pany, having been sent from Field Point afte. 



192 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

some straw, found on being hailed by tlie 
sentry when returning, that he had after all, 
so little discipline in the war, that he had for- 
gotten the pass-word, and finally stammered 
out in reply, " Straw ! straw for the beds ! " in 
a doleful tone. 

Mr. Selah Mead, was one of the sentries 
upon Field Point, and seeing but little excite- 
ment arising from the approach of the enemy, 
put into execution a practical joke of his own. 
Having stripped himself of his clothing, he 
dropped without noise into the water, and 
swam silently around the Point, where he found 
another sentry sleeping, whom he suddenly 
clasped around the waist, and shook him to 
wakefulness. The other awoke the neighbor- 
hood with his cries, supposing he was in the 
power of a real, live, naked mermaid. 

For some time this blockade of the Sound 
continued impervious for all vessels. The 
sloop Orion, Capt. Daniel Merritt, however, 
watching her opportunity, when the whole 
British fleet lay east of Greenwich point, slip- 
ped out and sailed safely to New York. 

After this time, the enemy's ships withdrew 
to the eastern part of the Sound, and our 
land-forces were withdrawn from the Points. 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 193 

In case of alarm tlie bells were to be rung. 
And one fine morning soon after, the greatest 
consternation was created by tbe fierce ring- 
ing of the alarm-bells. Men hurried to and 
fro, and the news spread like wildfire, that the 
British had landed during the night upon 
Greenwich Point. The militia collected hastily 
together, and the people, especially in the 
eastern part of the town were in a terrible 
flurry. Some of the Mianus people hastily 
collected their furniture together, ready to be 
transported and concealed in the Cat rocks. 
Col. Ebenezer Mead having collected his forces 
from this part of the town, hastened to the 
scene of action, with all of his ofiicers who 
were willing to serve in that ever-to-be-re- 
membered conflict. Arriving at the meeting- 
house in Old Greenwich, about two miles from 
the position known to be occupied by the sujd- 
posed enemy, they came to a dead halt. IN^one 
were willing to proceed farther. The whole 
company would not proceed in a body, neither 
would any of the officers or men advance 
singly to reconnoiter. At last the officers were 
relieved from this emergency by the arrival of 
Mr. Whitman Mead, who volunteered to ap- 
proach the point of danger. And mounted 



19 J: HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

upon a fleet liorse, bearing a wHte handker- 
chief spread upon a cane, lie set off to recon- 
noiter. He found the supposed enemy to be a 
fleet of American gun-boats under Commodore 
Lewis, who had been in search of one of the 
enemy's privateers during the previous night, 
and had landed upon the Point for breakfast. 
Mr. Mead so liked the joke that he stayed 
with the Commodore much longer than he 
should have done, and breakfasted with him. 

Meantime, our forces were in a great agony 
of suspense, supposing their scout had been 
taken prisoner, and their flag of truce violated. 
Finally, they found a seaman belonging to the 
fleet, and took him prisoner. They of course 
took him to be an enemy's spy, and he endured 
a rigid examination, but was unable to per- 
suade his ca]3tors of his true character until 
the return of the flag of truce, whose bearer 
explained all to the officers of our force. And 
they, feeling that they had earned glory enough 
for one day, disbanded and returned home. 

However, lest some enemy of the country 
might consider this a vulnerable point of 
attack, we w^ill assure our readers, that this 
town furnished many brave soldiers for the 
war of 1812, and is now nobly able to under- 



HISTOKT OF GKEENWICH. l^^ 

take lier own defense against any ordinary 
force wMch miglit be brought to bear against 
us. The trouble in the case above related was 
the uncertainty, and not the certainty, of the 
approach of enemies. 

The war was ended by the treaty of Ghent, 
signed on the 24th of December, 1814, and 
which was ratified by President Madison on 
the 17th of the following February. 

CONSTITUTION OF 1818. 

At a special meeting of the inhabitants of the 
town of Greenwich, legally warned and holden on 
the 25th day of March 1818, for the purpose of 
taldno- into consideration and expressing tl.eir 
opinion on the subject of a formation of a written 
constitution of civil government for the state ot 
Connecticut, and to appoint surveyors of liighways, 
when the meeting voted as follows ; 

That Isaac How be moderator. 

Resolved, that in all well regulated communities 
of mankind it is essential to the public welfare that 
there be a social compact originating m and ema- 
nating directly from the people deiining the powers 
oranted to their rulers and those retained, that it is 
also the duty of tlie people from time to time to 
amend or frame anew, the charter of their rights, 



196 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

as experience may suggest, or cliange of circum- 
stances may render necessary. 

Resolved, tliat whereas the people of this state 
have, from immemorial, yielded an implied consent 
to the present form of government, we feel no dis- 
position to deny its legitimacy, or to impair its obli- 
gations, by den^^ing the validity of acts and laws 
made under it, but deeming it materially imperfect 
in many important particulars, therefore we are in- 
duced to declare our opinion that a written consti- 
tution of civil government, made and approved by 
the people will have a tendency to improve the in- 
ternal peace and happiness of the state and promote 
the general welfare. 

Resolved, that it be respectfully recommended to 
the good people of this state to express their feelings 
freely and publicl.y on this important subject. 

Resolved, that the town clerk be directed to fur- 
nish an attested copy of the proceedings of this 
town meeting to the Representatives from this town 
to the next General Assembly and to the editors of 
newspapers published at Hartford and Bridgeport. 

On tlie 4th of July of tlie same year, 

Clark San ford, Esq., ' 

Enos Lockw^ood, Esq., 

were elected as delegates to tlie constitutional 
convention wliick was liolden at Hartford on 
the fourth Wednesday of August. 



HISTORY OF GKEENWICH. 197 

On tlie first Monday of October following 
the constitution was ratified in town-meeting, 
by a vote of ninety yeas and thirty-seven 
nays. 

On the fifth day of May A. D. 1829, a special 
town-meeting was held to take into considera- 
tion measures to prevent the slaughter of sheep 
by dogs. During the year, thirty-two of the 
inhabitants reported that one hundred and 
ninety-seven sheep, and one hundred and six- 
teen lambs had been killed by dogs. The loss 
was estimated at eight hundred and seventy- 
six dollars. Besides these, many had been 
killed which w^ere not reported. 

In 1832, it was " voted that we will receive 
proposals from the buildiug committee of the 
Episcopal Society relative to building a town- 
house." 

" Voted that we will build a town-house, on 
condition we can agree upon a proper place 
for locating it, and upon proper terms." 

In 1834 and 1835, the town-meetings w^ere 
held at the Methodist Episcopal Church at 
Mianus. 

On the fifth of October, 1835, it was "voted 
that the town of Greenwich build a town- 
house to hold their public meetings in ; that it 
be for that express purpose, and no other." 



198 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

" Voted that said liouse "be built on or near 
tlie ground where Seymour's blacksmith shop 
formerly stood in Horseneck." Silas Davis, 
Thomas A. Mead, William Timpany, were ap- 
pointed a committee to " oversee and contract 
for the same, and to consult the selectmen as 
to size and shape." 

On the 3d of December 1836, a town-meet- 
ing was held on the site of this town-house, 
which was not then completed. Since that 
time the house which now stands at the junc- 
tion of North street and the Turnpike, has 
been the place for holding town-meetings. 

skimeto:n' parties. 

Much excitement used frequently arise among 
the good people of the town, up to the year 
1850, on account of what were known as Skime- 
ton parties. The people fond of such things, 
young and old, used to celebrate every tangible 
wedding which took place within the precincts 
of the town, with a turn-out of drums and 
guns. A large six-pounder did much service 
in this cause, and seems, indeed, of latter years 
to have been the very life of these parties. 
For when it made its sudden disappearance, the 
practice went almost as suddenly out of exist- 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 199 

ence. Some time in the montli of February 
A. D. 1850, a large Skimeton party was held in 
the village, which is believed to have been the 
last of the custom. We are indebted to an 
anonymous writer for his account of this matter, 
obviously intended to be poetic, and although 
a failure in that respect in a great degree, we 
believe it to be a correct and impartial account 
of the affair. If it should be a little too personal 
in some of its points, we hope the public will 
forgive its insertion, for the value of the his- 
torical relation. Nearly or quite all the parties 
connected with the affair are yet living. Some 
of the names are, of course, assumed. 

The Last Skimeton. 

'Twas late in winter, and Sabbath day ; 
But what the month I'll never say. 
Or first, or second, one or t'other,— 
To remember is too much bother. 
A happy day it was to many, 
Nor should there be unhappy any ; 
Yet truly was it most certain sure 
That two were happy, if no more ; 
For this good, very happy couple 
In one were to be made, from double. 
Ages well suited, sweet seventeen 
Multiplied thrice — fifty-one, I ween. 



200 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

Of the parties, no more need I say ; 
To tell all, then, must hurry away. 
Respected by all, they certainly were ; 
To think not so, you surely err. 

The sun goes down in all its splendor, 
And to the roosts the chickens venture. 
The guests have all come to see the fun, 
And hear the two all knotted in one. 
And kiss the bride in spite of the groom^ 
And see their own wives safe to their home, 
And drink hard cider and eat sweet cake. 
And with a good spree the dull spirit break. 

The two stood up, and Dominy Gorse 

Tied up a knot as strong as a horse. 

The knot all tied ; the bride often kissed ; 

The cake passed round; and what each one wished. 

The barrel below wasn't half drinked up ; 

Enough was left for many a cup ; 

When quickly spoke Father Gorse — quoth he, 

" My dear, dear Sir^ now truly tell me. 

How would you act, and what would you do. 

If the Sklmeton should visit you ?" 

" Oh ! no fear of that, good friend," Sir cried ; 

"They'll not salute, Sunday night, my br^de ; 

But should they come, I've a barrel full 

Of cider — the right sparkling, hard school. 

Or rather, 'tis full I can make it, 

Thousjh now there is but one-third of it. 

With water I can fill up the cask, — 

In what way it came there none will ask. 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 201 

And none drunken from this will be found 
When the cask I'll roll out on the ground. 
They will eat this cake and drink this cider, 
And then, like me so much the better." 

Sir spoke like a man, so all will say ; 
And they came not on that sacred day. 
The guests that night departed in peace, 
And those not over-cramraed slept with ease ; 
Though, doubtless, many had flighty dreams, 
In which they saw great guns drawn by teams, 
And loaded and fired, without dismay, 
At the glass from windows jarred away. 

Next day came ; and, though unsuspected, 
A Skimeton had been collected. 
Brush sold the powder, little knowing, 
'Twould cause so terrible a blowing. 
The powder was made up in cartridges. 
To load the gun in greater ease ; 
The charcoal furnace was hunted up, — 
All was right for the hardy troop. 

Night soon came ; the B'hoys were on hand. 
The chief addressed, in manner bland ; 
Said he, "There will be no firing done. 
But a Bridegroom treat for all and one." 
He told to them what was said to Gorse ; 
Then rose loud cheers, that made them hoarse, — 
Lono", loud cheers for the generous groom : 
For cider they had plenty of room. 



202 'HISTORY OF GEEENWICH. 

Then marched down the street, dragging their gun, 
And, feeling well, were agape for fun. 
Before the house, goodnatured, they halt, 
Winking and blinking, waiting their malt. 

But look as they are at that hale band. 
While I may group them all as they stand. 
Of full-grown men I find there are five ; 
Of boys thrice that, as I'm alive ; 
Of outsiders, much as a full score ; 
If cider comes out, there'll surely be more. 
Oh ! what a bitter tale I could tell. 
Of the young hopefuls I know full well. 
Who stray'd from their mammas that night. 
Among the outsiders here in plight. 
But, as they'll 'scape the trial so dread. 
Which fearfully hangs o'er each one's head, 
And their bad deed will never be known, 
But to their own consciences alone, 
I'll forbear to give them the expose. 
And let each one follow his own nose. 

I've spent some time in grouping them all ; 
They are waiting yet, and one doth call 
A halloo to the gunner to fire, 
Just to tell the groom that they're there.; 
" Agreed," he cries, and plies the hot rod. 
And the thundering peal breaks off the nod 
Of all the sleepers in that region, — 
When from the house comes forth a legion. 
The happy crowd stand a little back. 
Thinking Sir is coming with the cake. 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 203 

True, 'tis Sir, 'tis very, very true. 

But no cake he brings, and they look blue. 

And no kindness now by him is meant, 

Prepared he is, and on war intent. 

"War to the ram-rod ;" let come what will, 

His dozen compeers will back him still. 

The kind feeling's changed since wedding day, 

For then 'twas thought 'twould be all O. K. 

Sir seized the ram-rod, and held it tight. 

And swore, if at all during the night 

Any one dare to touch the big gun. 

That same, and sure, would be a dead ** muny 

Outsiders now scamper, and the boys all run, 

Leaving but few to tend to the gun. 

They look for their chiefs — not finding one, 

For they all left when the fracas begun. 

So the few, at last, concluded to run , 

Catching the rope, away they did bound, 

And left Boss Sir the boss of the ground. 

And back they went to the rendezvous. 

Poor fellows, they didn't know what to do ! 

But as each one felt tired and sad, 

Concluded at last to go home to bed. 

Yet with faithful heart they each resolved, 

Of their cowardly fault to be absolved ; 

When to-morrow's sun is out of sight, 

With the favoring darkness of the night, 

On the ground they'd again assemble, 

Greater in force, and much more nimble ; 

Courage from Coscob, and Glenville too, — 

Borrow, and begin all anew. 

Homeward went, but their sleep was troubled 

With sights of a man whose size was doubled. 



204 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

Huge ram-rod shouldered ever so bold, 
Daring any with him to take hold. 

Morning came; they awoke from their dreams 
And found their way with the sun's bright beams 
Some, to pretty Glenville's happy vale, 
And told to their friends their pitiful tale, 
And gained recruits, a dozen or more, 
"With fifer and drummer to go before. 
Others, to Coscob, well known in fame 
For the bravest sons in any game. 
When CoscoB men their strength do try, 
What they wish, is done, or I do lie. 
Indeed by the time that sun-down came, 
Some fifty, that I might call by name. 
Were all ready on the coming night, 
To man the gun and never know flight. 

All gathered at night with fife and drum 

At th'appointed place, with busy hum, 

Each one cheered his brother's courage up. 

Some cheered their own with drink from the cup. 

Soon, to move on, the word was given, 

And onward they went, dragging their gun ; 

Arrived at the house, they met a crowd. 

Brave defenders who scolded them loud. 

Entreated, commanded, all in vain. 

And all get wrathy as bad as Cain. 

Both sides were naughty it must be said. 

And things were coming all to a head. 

When out spoke the bride-groom, and said he 

"I've in hand a musket, you see, 

'Tis loaded, 'tis cocked, 'tis ready to fire, 

And he that toucheth off this cannon dire, 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 205 

Shall never live to fire anotlier, 

I swear, at liim, I'll pull the trigger." 

This treat gave all a conniption fit, 
But one fellow didn't mind it a bit ; 
And a brave little fellow was he, 
Coscob tinker Palmer, bold and free. 
He faced old musket and man behind. 
Says he, " Mr. Sir, in you 'tis kind. 
Me to shoot, and bereave my family ; 
But than fire, you'll have more charity." 
"No, I won't" was the thundering reply, 
" Touch ofi^that gun and then you die." 
" Fire and be darned ;" and he took the match, 
And fired off" the gun without a scratch. 
If Si7- fired at Palmer, then the sound, 
When the cannon went off was all drowned. 
Sands was too small or Sir didn't aim straight. 
For then to be shot wasn't Palmer's fate. 
But what a noise that cannon did make. 
Every thing got a terrible shake. 
A score of glass lights ; all ranged in rows, 
Came to the earth with terrible blows ; 
Doors open ; and stoves jump two feet high. 
Not minding the leap more than a fly ; 
Success gives courage to Skimeton ; 
The gun is drawn back at a stiff run. 
But the charcoal furnace, that is lost 
By some vandal, the fence overtoss'd. 
Then arise free fights more than my pen 
Shall lay at the door of any man. 
But words were all the weapons of war. 
Some could whip twenty and some still more. 
10 



206 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

They brought back the gun and would have fired, 

For by this time all really dared, 

But damp the priming had got, and wet 

By water, from a pail thrown on it. 

At last fired it off" and then drew it back, 

When the powder was missing, alack. 

A traitor must have been in their camp, 

And, in the wet dew strewed it, so damp. 

Gone ammunition ; no powder to burn, 

Backward again, their swift steps they turn, 

And two miles ride in a gig. 

Of powder, to obtain a full keg. 

Soon they return and met with success, 

Exhibit their keg with a good grace. 

Again to the field, though it is late, 

And plant the old piece by Sir^s old gate. 

No enemy's there, the field is won, 

The victory claimed by firing a gun ; 

Another, another, and one more. 

Till the number equals a full score. 

And, at length, ammunition was spent. 

And their weary step homeward they bent. 

Their gun, they locked up, in the old barn, 

There to keep it all safe until morn. 

Then went to their homes to sleep quite sound, 

And on the morning to brag all around. 

How the gun was fired and battle won. 

By the dauntless, the brave Shimeton. 

But, a deed, I have now to relate, 
A dark deed committed the selfsame night. 
Of the men I'll not speak, nor say who, 
But they were a bold and daring crew. 



HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 207 

Sheltered by darkness a lock they broke ; 

Got in the barn by hook or by crook ; 

Stole out that gun and carried it oflF, 

And certainly handled it quite rough. 

They took it away and no one knows where 

And I think very few ought to care. 

It was hidden, many think, away 

In a high loft very full of hay. 

Or, 'twas hid in a potato heap, 

Or, in the Sound had taken a leap, 

But though a sharp search was strictly made, 

They never found where the cannon laid, 

Nor ever to tell, do I now care. 

Yet the gun didn't travel that night very far. 

But with his gun, in this manner lost. 

Skimmeton quietly gave up the ghost. 

But the end is not yet, no not yet. 

The lawyers they must have a benefit. 

'Tis an ill wind blows nobody good, 

And so Sheriff Seely understood ; 

Warrant in hand, got all he could catch, 

Though some fastened on him, their door-latch. 

Then he scared one up into a tree, 

But finally caught some twenty-three. 

And brought them all in before a Squire, 

To be dealt with by Justice so dire. 

Though it seemed strange yet it is true 
Of wily lawyers, the State had two. 
The prisoners against these had but one. 
To struggle against both all alone. 



208 HISTORY OF GREENWICH. 

The Justice he said never a word, 
Though every thing said, he surely heard. 
Prisoners were charged with making a row ; 
"Wouldn't they catch it, wouldn't they now. 
Wanting proof, some were freed in a huff. 
Although they wan't half humbled enough. 
The trial took some two I think days. 
For they tried to get clear in many ways. 
Lastly, they were bound over to Court, 
But the prisoners didn't take the least hurt. 
Indeed had no trial up there at all 
The papers were wrong respecting them all. 

The trial mentioned took place in the upper 
part of the shop now used by Joseph E. Rus- 
sel, Esq. ; Hon. Charles Hawley and Hon. 
Joshua B. Ferris, of Stamford, were employed 
for the prosecution, and Hon. William T. 
Minor, of Stamford, for the defence before the 
justice. All of them were most able attorneys, 
and with the bystanders, appeared to enjoy 
the sport which necessarily arose at the trial. 

In the year 1853, the town was set off as a 
probate district by itself. Previously, it with 
Darien and Stamford, had formed the Probate 
District of Stamford. At the special meeting 
then held for election of a judge, Augustus 
Mead, Esq. was chosen. Since that the office 
has been filled by Mr. Mead. 



HISTOEY OF GREENWICH. 209 

The road from Glenville to Byram bridge 
on tlie west side of Byram river, was laid out 
by Messrs. Hubbell and Shepard, Fairfield 
County Commissioners, in 1856. This road 
was contested strongly by the town authorities, 
backed by a vote of the town. A lengthy 
trial was held before the Commissioners, who 
decided in favor of the road. The attorneys 
employed by the petitioners were Julius B. 
Curtis and Henry Dutton, Esqs. ; in behalf of 
the town, Daniel M. Mead and Charles Hawley, 
Esqs. Wm. H. Holly of Stamford was also 
employed by a private citizen opposed to the 
road. 

And now the greater part of the interesting 
historical matter relating to the town, has been 
given. Should the author, in after days, find 
opportunity to enlarge this History, he will be 
able to record many interesting details. In 
this volume, we have sought simply, and in 
the smallest possible compass, to relate reliable 
facts. With the Appendix, containing reliable 
statistics of value, we now take our respectful 
leave of the reader. 



AN APPENDIX 

CONTAINING 

VALUABLE STATISTICS, 

•WITH A 
ALSO, A 

HISTORY OF THE VARIOUS RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES; 

WITH THE 

GENEALOGIES OF SEVERAL FAMILIES, 

AND 

OTHER VALUABLE INFORMATION. 

BY THE AUTHOR. 

COLLECTED TOR THIS TaTORK TROM RELIiDLE iCTHORITIES. 



FAIKFIELD COUNTY. 

This county, extending from the Sound nortliward, 
in a triangular form, nearly two thirds of the way 
along the boundary line between IN' ew York and 
Connecticut, is a populous, thickly settled, and very 
fertile district. It abounds in rocks and hills, which 
render cultivation in many cases difficult. But the 
fertility of the soil amply repays the hardest labor. 
In 1855, the county embraced the following towns, 
which are given, showing the comparative wealth 
of each during that year, as reported by the Con- 
necticut Register. 



212 



APPENDIX. 



Bridgeport 

Brookfield 

Danbury 

Darien 

Easton 

Fairfield 

Greenwich 

Huntington 

Monroe 

New Canaan... , 
New Fairfield.. . 

Newtown , 

Norwalk 

Redding 

Ridgefield 

Sherman 

Stamford 

•Stratford 

Trumbull 

"Weston 

"Westport 

Wilton 



Polls. 



1,059 
266 

1,079 
239 
260 
616 
625 
249 
255 
455 
189 
606 
705 
306 
449 
161 
717 
321 
290 
175 
452 
336 



Valuation. Stores. Manufactories, 



6,041,593 

645,721 

3,025,095 

854,732 

631,100 

2,957,008 

2,495,215 

622,920 

604,345 

931,608 

397,584 

1,327,436 

2,561,577 

1,014,963 

1,106,296 

390,723 

3,183,183 

1,341,981 

637,253 

424,040 

1,613,686 

644,722 



811,530 

9,401 

144,650 

16,330 

5,947 
22,735 
41,940 

5,225 

6,943 
29,540 

4,850 

39,060 

135,050 

20,930 

22,140 

3,897 
112,520 
11,195 
13,758 
10,120 
73,850 

6,171 



484,750 

15,225 

125,894 

3,230 

1,450 

3,750 

34,200 

5,650 

2,450 

19,375 

3,050 

237,150 

21,425 

9,157 

153,945 

9,990 

15,366 

4,300 

19,800 

900 



The above towns were settled in tlie following 
order : 



Fairfield, or as the Indians called it,'Unqnowa, 
was settled by eight or ten families, under a Mr. Lud- 
low, the principal settler, in the year 1639. Ludlow 
had been twice Deputy Governor of Massachusetts 
Colony, and was twice elected Deputy Governor of 
Connecticut Colony. He afterwards moved to Yir- 
ginia. The first purchase comprised the parishes of 



APPENDIX. 213 

Fairfield, Greenfield, Greensfarms, a part of Strat- 
ford, a part of Eeading, and the whole town of 
Weston. The lighthouse on Fairweather Island, on 
the easterly side of Black Eock harbor, is in Lati- 
tude 41 deg. 8 min. 30 sees., and Longitude 73 
deg. 12 min. 44 sees. Time, 4 h. 52 m. 51 s. The 
light is 52 feet above the sea, and may be seen at a 
distance of 12.6 nautical miles. 

Stratford, or in the Indian tongue Cupheag, was 
purchased in 1639 by a Mr. Fairchild. Settlement 
was commenced immediately. The principal early- 
settlers were John and William Eustice, Samuel 
Hawdey, Joseph Judson, and Timothy Wilcoxson. 
At Stratford the first Episcopal Church was estab- 
lished in Connecticut, under Rev. Mr. Muirson, of 
Rye, in 1704. The latitude of Stratford Point Light- 
house is 41 deg., 9 min., 4 sec; longitude, 73 deg., 
5 min., 53 sec. Time, 4 h., 23 m., 52 s. The light 
is 53 feet above the level of the sea, and may be 
seen at the distance of 12.7 nautical miles. 

Greenwich was purchased and settled upon in 
1640, on the 18th of July, by Capt. Daniel Patrick, 
Robert Peaks, Elizabeth Feaks, &c. The lighthouse 
on Captain's Island is in latitude 40 deg., 58 min., 
54 sec, and longitude 73 deg., 37 min., 6 sec 
Time. 4 h., 54 m., 28 s. Light is 62 feet above the 
level of the sea, and may be seen at the distance of 
13.4 nautical miles. 
10^ 



^■^* APPENDIX. 



^RWALK was first purchased of the Indians in 
1640. It then included part of New Canaan, Wil- 
ton, and Westport. The whole was purchased with 
" 8 fathom wampum, 6 coats, 10 hatchets, 10 hoes 
10 knives, 10 seizers, 10 juseharps, 10 fathom to' 
bacco, 3 kettles, 3 handsabout and 10 looking 
glasses." The bounds were on the north, one day's 
walk mto the country, hence the name Norwalk 
Irom North-walk. On petition of Nathan Ely and 
Kichard Olmsted, it was incorporated in 1649 On 
the nth of July, 1779, the village was burned to 
the ground by the Tories under Gov. Tryon. The 
loss of property as estimated by the General As- 
sembly was $116,238 and 66 cents. Eighty dwell- 
ings, with two churches, eighty-seven blrns, seven- 
teen shops, four mills and ^ye vessels were con- 
sumed. The lighthouse on Sheffield Island, one of 
the Norwalk Islands, is situated in latitude 41 deo- 
2 mm., 53 sec, and long. 73 deg. 24 min., 51 selj.' 
Time. 4 b., 53 min., 39 s. The light is 40 feet above 
the level of the sea, and may be seen at the distance 
ot 11.6 nautical miles. 

Stamford, or Eippowams, was purchased by Capt. 
Nathaniel Turner in 1640. The boundary line be- 
tween Greenwich and Stamford was settled in No- 
vember of the same year. Turner paid the Indians 
tor the purchase, " twelve coats, twelve hoes, twelve 
hatchets, twelve knives, two kettles and four fathom 
of white wampum," Thirty or forty inhabitants 



APPENDIX. ^^^ 

settled on the purchase in 1641. The vamtion of 
the needle at Stamford in September 1844 was 6 
de- 40 min. The Stage House Hotel is in latitude 
ildeg. 2 min, 53 sec, and longitude 73 deg. 32 min, 
30 sec. 

Danburt, or Pahquioque, was iirst settled in the 
Bummer of 1684. The settlement consisted ol eiglit 
families. The heads of the families were Thomas 
Taylor, Judah Gregory, Francis Bushnel, James 
Beebe, Thomas Barnum, Samuel Benedict, John 
Hoyt and James Benedict. They were, with a sing e 
exception, all from Norwalk. Danbury is a half- 
shire town of the county, containing Court House 
and Jail. Bethel, a flourishing town, southeast ot 
Danbury, has been recently set off from it and been 
incorporated as a town by itself. Danbury was 
burned by the British on the 2otli of April, 1^77 , 
and the loss which incurred thereby amounted to 
£15 862 9« Id- A hospital for the Americans was 
kept at Danbury for some time during the war. 
Two buildings of large dimensions were built tor 
that purpose. A great many sick were ssnt here 
from White Plains, and about two hundred soldiers 
were buried here during the war, When the British 
made their attack, or rather committed their depre- 
dations, upon the town of Danbury, they passed 
through the village of Bethel. They were met, 
while descending a hill, a short distance from the 
village on the Reading road, by Mr. Luther Hoi- 



216 APPENDIX. 

comb, an old inhabitant of Danbury. He was on 
horseback, and rode to the top of a knoll in front of 
the enemy, and turning about waved his sword as if 
to an immense host behind him, shouting in tremen- 
dous tones, "7Z(^?^ the whole Universe^ hreak off hy 
'kingdoms!''' Upon this, the British not knowing 
who mi2:ht be aorainst them besides the whole Uni- 
verse, came to a full halt, planted their cannon, and 
sent out the proper wings, while Mr. Holcomb 
seized the opportunity to ride off with all speed to 
a place of safety, even without his army. 

]^EW-TowN, by the Indians called Pohtatuck, was 
incorporated as a town in the year 170S. The 
Indian name was derived from a small stream which 
empties into the Housatonic. The soil is quite fertile 
and productive. 

EiDGEFiELD, or Caudatowa, was settled by inhabi- 
tants mostly from Norwalk, in the year 1708. John 
Belden, Matthias St. John, Matthew Seymour, and 
Samuel Keeler, were the most influential of the 
early settlers. Their deed was dated the thirtieth 
of September, and was signed by Catoonah, the 
principal Indian chief Just over the boundary line 
is the cave, or rather the semblance of a cave, 
where Sarah Bishop, tliehermitess, lived during the 
latter part of her life. She died in 1810. She dwelt 
there alone, many of the superstitious regarding her 
as a witch. But ill treatment by one of the many 



APPENDIX. 217 

unprincipled and detestable British officers, during 
the Revolutionary War, is said to have been the 
cause of her leading so singular a life among the 
mountains. 

]^EW Fairfield was not settled until 1730. Set- 
tlement was then made in what is called the lower 
seven miles. The first minister was the Rev. Bena- 
jah Case, who was ordained in 1712. 

■Reading, so called in honor of one of its first and 
most influential settlers, was incorporated as a town 
in May, 1767. Gen. Putnam's head-quarters were 
here while stationed in this part of the country. 
Under his command were the New Hampshire 
brigade, two Connecticut brigades, a corps of infan- 
try and a corps of cavalry. During the first part 
of their being under command at this station, the 
soldiers were but indiiferently fed and clothed. 
While the legislature w^ere in session, they were 
on the point of marching to Hartford, to demand 
assistance from that body at the point of the bayonet. 
Putnam, with his accustomed boldness, made them 
a short and effective speech, in which he took occa- 
sion to point out to them the shame which would 
come upon Connecticut tnen^ should they carry out 
their foolish designs. His speecli satisfied them. 
And shortly afterwards, by the exertions of Connec- 
ticut w^omen, none of them had reason to complain 
of not being comfortably clothed. Two executions 



218 APPENDIX. 

took place while Gen. Putnam was quartered here. 
One, a youth of sixteen or seventeen, was shot for 
desertion ; and the other was a Tory, named Jones, 
of Kidgefield. One of the most distinguished men 
of Connecticut, Joel Barlow, LL. D. was born here 
in 1755. He was a poet and a statesman. He 
died Dec. 22d, 1812, at Zarnawica, a small village 
in Poland, near Cracow. 

Beookfield, named after Pev. Mr. Brooks, their 
first minister, was incorporated in 1788. Before 
that time it formed portions of Newtown, Danburj, 
and New Milford. Settlement had been made on 
the tract some thirty years before. 

The town contains 17 square miles, or 11,000 acres. 
There are beds of limestone and marble in the town. 
The soil is well adapted to the raising of grain. 

Huntington was incorporated as a town in 1789. 
Pev. Jedediah Mills was the first minister in what 
is now Huntington. He was settled in 1724, and 
the settlement began about 70 years previous to its 
incorporation. 

New Canaan was incorporated in 1801. It was 
formerly a parish lying partly in Stamford and Nor- 
walk, incorporated as a parish in 1731. In 1732 
there were forty-seven members of the parish, 
thirty from Norwalk and seventeen from Stamford. 
Their first minister was Pev. John Eeels of Milford, 



APPENDIX. 219 

who was ordained in June, 1733. He preached 
until 1741. His death occurred at ISTew Canaan in 
1785, when he was in his 85th year. Rev. Robert 
Silliman preached there from 1742 until 1711. 
"William Drummond succeeded him in 1772, and 
preached five years , after which he was dismissed 
and deposed from the ministry in 1777. Rev. Jus- 
tus Mitchel then followed in the year 1783, and 
preached until 1806, when he suddenly died. The 
business of the town is mostly shoe and leather 
manufacture. 

Sherman, forming the northern angle of Fairfield 
County, was originally a part of Kew Fairfield. 
It was incorporated as a town by itself in 1802. It 
has but few inhabitants, though the soil is good and 
well adapted to the raising of grain of all kinds. 

"Wilton, though organized as a society in the town 
of Norwalk in 1726, was not incorporated as a town 
until 1802. The chief occupation of the inhabitants 
is agriculture. There is a silver mine in the limits 
of this town, which has not been worked since the 
Revolutionary war. Wilton is the birth-place of 
Prof. Stuart, of Andover Theological Seminary. 

Darien, formerly known as the Middlesex Parish, 
in the town of Stamford, was incorporated as a town 
in 1820. Throughout the Revolution, a large num- 
ber of the inhabitants of this district were Tories. 



220 APPENDIX. 

Dr. Moses Mather was preaching in the Congrega- 
tional Church on Sunday the 22d of July, A. D. 
1781, when a party of Tories completely surrounded 
the church and took most of the people prisoners, 
only a few young men escaping through the win- 
dows. Two shots were fired at these ; but they dare 
fire no more, as three guns was the well known sig- 
nal of alarm in this part of the country. All the 
males were then tied two and two and led out of 
the church, with the venerable Dr. Mather at their 
head. The Tories also carried off some forty horses 
belonging to the congregation which had assembled, 
and marched the prisoners to the Sound shore, where 
they were embarked for Lloyd's Neck on Long 
Island. From thence they were taken to Kew 
York, and confined in the Provost prison, where 
they underwent the most severe treatment. The 
following contains a portion of a poem entitled 

A Poetical Relation of the Capture of the Congregation at 
Middlesex, with an Account of their Sufferings, c&c, 
while in ca.jytivity ; by Peter St. John. 

Now to relate 'tis my intent 

A sad nnd tragical event. 

On what I write you may rely, 

As I've the history lying by. 

July the twenty-second day, 

Where Christians meet to sing and pray, 

In seventeen hundred and eighty-one, 

An horrid action was beffun. 



APPENDIX. 221 

While to the Lord they sing and pray, 

The Tories, who in ambush lay, 

Beset the house with brazen face ; 

At Middlesex it was the place. 

A guard was placed the house before, 

Likewise behind and at each door. 

Then, void of shame, those men of sin 

The sacred temple entered in. 

The Rev. Mather closed his book, — 

How did the congregation look ? 

The reverend priest, the man of God, 

Severely felt the smarting rod, — 

Not by a whip do I pretend. 

But by abuses from those friends. 

How must he feel to see his sheep 

Thus worried, whilst they silence keep. 

Those demons plundered what they could. 

Either in silver, or in gold. 

The silver buckles, which we use 

Both at the knees and on the shoes. 

These caitiffs took them ; in their rage 

Had no respect for sex or age. 

And as they all were searching round, 

They several silver watches found. 

They who were placed as guards without. 

Like raging devils ranged about, 

Took forty horses to the shore. 

Not many either less or more ; 

With bridles, saddles, pillions on, 

In a few minutes all was done. 

The men which hence they took away, 

Upon this sacred awful day. 



222 APPENDIX. 

Was forty-eight, besides two more 

They chanced to find upon the shore. 

When to the shore they were conveyed, 

The orders given they obeyed. 

On board the shipping they were sent, 

But greatly feared the sad event ; 

As well they might, because they knew 

Their captors were the Devil's crew. 

They hoisted sail, the Sound they cross'd, 

And near Lloyd's neck they anchored first. 

Then every man must tell his name ; 

A list they took, and kept the same. 

Now twenty- four of fifty men 

Were ordered home again , 

The twenty-six who stay'd behind, 

Most cruelly were they confined ; 

On board the brig were ordered quick, 

And were confined beneath the deck. 

A nasty hole, with filth besmear'd, — 

But 'twas no more than what they fear'd. 

****** 

But to return whence I left off", 
They at our misery made a scofi*, — 
Like raging devils tore about, 
Swearing they'd tear our vitals out ; , 
That they'd no quarter ever give, 
Nor let a cursed rebel live ; 
But would their joints in pieces cut; — 
Then round the deck like devils strut. 
Oh, human nature, how depraved ! 
Can any mortal e'er be saved ? 



APPENDIX. 223 

So void of good, so full of evil, 
And wholly bent to serve the Devil. 
July the four and twentieth day, 
We all were sent to Oyster Bay. 

We to the ferry came at last, 

View'd by spectators as we past : 

The gazing rabble, tory throng, 

Would curse us as we passed along. 

Ten thousand curses round us rung ; 

But some would laugh, and some would sneer, 

And some would grin, and some would leer. 

A mixed mob, a medley crew, 

I guess, as e'er the Devil knew. 

To the Provost we then were haul'd, 

Though we of war were prisoners called ; 

Our irons now were ordered off, — 

The standers-by would swear and scoff. 

But 0, what company we found ! 

With great surprise we looked around ! 

I must conclude that in this place 

We found the worst of Adam's race ; 

Thieves, murderers, and pickpockets too, 

And every thing that's bad they do. 

One of our men found, to his cost, 

Three pounds of York money he had lost ; — 

His pockets picked, I guess, before 

We had been there one single hour. 

m^ % ^ % % % * 

Full eighteen days, or something more, 
We fairly were exchang'd before ; 



22J: APPENDIX. 

Of the exchange they let us know, 
Or from that place of bondage go. 
That of the number twenty-five, 
But just nineteen were left alive ; 
Four days before December's gone. 
In seventeen hundred eighty-one. 

Bridgeport was formerly part of the parish ot 
Stratfield, in the town of Stratford, and also a part 
of the town ot* Fairfield. It was incorporated as a 
town in 1821. The city of Bridgeport was incor- 
porated as such in 1836, and is situated on the 
mouth of the Pequanick river, at the head of a 
liarbor two miles from the Sound. At the close of 
the Kevolutionary war, there were only twelve 
houses where the city now stands. The population 
in 1790 was only one hundred and ten, while in 
1850 the population is seven thousand five hundred 
and fifty-eight. Bridgeport is one of the county 
towns for Fairfield Count3^ The Court-house is as 
good a one as can be found in the United States. 

Monroe, formerly a part of Huntington, was in- 
corporated in 1823. It contains about twenty-six 
square miles. * 

Westport, formerly known by the Indian name 
of Langatuck, was formed from the territory of 
Fairfield, Weston, and Korwalk. It was settled as 
part of those towns, and incorporated by itself in 
1835. It contains about seventeen square miles. 



APPENDIX. 



225 



Weston was incorporated in 1787, being formed 
by two parishes before that time belonging to Fair- 
field. It was, however, settled earlier than 1740. 
With Easton it contained nearly or quite forty 
square miles. The first Methodist Society in ^ew 
England is said to have been at Bridgeport ; but the 
first church built by that denomination of Chris- 
tians was at Weston. It was known as Lee's 
chapel. 

Trumbull, containing a little more than twenty- 
one square miles, was incorporated from North 
Stratford in 1798. 

Easton has been, some two or more years since, 
incorporated as a town by itself, from Weston. 

Bethel, formerly the southeastern corner of Dan- 
bury, was incorporated as a town in 1855. 



Population. 



Bethel, 

Bridgeport, 

Brookfield, 

D anbury, . 

Darien, 

Easton, 

Fairfield, 

Greenwich, 



1830. 


1850. 


See Danbury. 


2,800 


7,558 


1,255 


1,360 


4,311 


5,964 


1,212 


1,454 


1,212 


1,432 


4,222 


3,618 


3,801 


5,040 



226 



Huntington, 

Monroe, 

New Canaan, 

New Fairfield, 

Newtown, 

Norwalk, . 

Heading, 

Ridgefield, 

Sherman, 

Stamford, . 

Stratford, 

Trumbull, . 

"Weston, 

Westport, . 

Wilton, 



APPENDIX. 








1830. 


1850. 




1,371 


1,301 




. 1,522 


1,440 




1,830 


2,601 




. 939 


927 




3,096 


3,358 




. 3,792 


4,051 




1,686 


1,754 




. 2,305 


2,237 




947 


984 




. 3,707 


5,004 




1,814 


2,040 




. 1,242 


1,313 




2,997 


1,063 






2,642 




2,097 


2,066 



The County, (in 1810, 42,739) . 46,950 59,841 

In population Bridgeport ranks the highest, Dan- 
bury next, then Greenwich, then Stamford, &c. 



Variations of Magnetic Needle for Fairfield 
County. 

Variation. When observed, 
6°38' west. Sept. 1844. 
6°40' " " 

6°46' " " 

6° 19' " Sept. 1845. 
6°54' " " 



Place. 
Greenwich, 
Stamford, 
JS'orwalk, 
Bridgeport, 
Black Rock, 



JBy whom. 
Prof. Renvvick. 



Legget's Station, 5°41' " Oct. 1847. R. H. Fauntleroy. 



APPENDIX. 



227 



Professional Statistics for 1855. 

Attorneys in Fairfield County, ... 61 

Clergy in do do ... 108 

Physicians in do do . . . 8i 

Sovereigns of England after the Settlement of 



Cromwell. 


V. 


His son, » . . . 


1658. 


Charles II., . 


. 1660. 


James IL, 


1685. 


William and Mary, 


. 1689. 


William III., . 


1691. 


.^.^nne, 


. 1702. 


George I., 


1711. 


George II., . 


. 1727. 


George III., 


1760. 



The latter ceased to reign in 1811, but lost the 
colonies in 1776. 



List of the Governors of Connecticut. 

John Winthrop, . from 165:3 to 1676, died. 

William Leete, . . " 1676 to 1683, " 
Kobert Treat, . . " 1683 to 1687. 

Government was here interrupted for a year and a 

half. 
Kobert Treat, . . from 1689 to 1698. 

Fitz John Winthrop, . " 1698 to 1707, died. 



228 APPENDIX. 






Gnrdon Saltonstall, . 


from 


1707 to 1724, 


died. 


Joseph Talcott, . 


a 


1724 to 1741, 


ii 


Jonathan Law, 


a 


1741 to 1750, 


ii 


Roger Wolcott, . 


u 


1750 to 1754. 




Thomas Fitch, 


a 


1754 to 1766. 




William Pitkin, . 


a 


1766 to 1769, 


died 


Jonathan Trumbull, . 


6C 


1769 to 1784. 




Matthew Griswold, 


a 


1784 to 1786. 




Samuel Huntington, . 


a 


1786 to 1796. 




Oliver Wolcott, . 


a 


1796 to 1798. 




Jonathan Trumbull, , 


u 


1798 to 1809, 


died 


John Treadwell, . 


C( 


1809 to 1811. 




Roger Griswold, 


ii 


1811 to 1813, 


died 


John Cotton Smith, 


a 


1813 to 1817. 




Oliver Wolcott, 


a 


1817 to 1827. 




Gideon Tomlinson, 


ii 


1827 to 1831. 




Jolm S. Peters, 


u 


1833 to 1834. 




Samuel A. Foot, . 


u 


1834 to 1835. 




Jolm S. Peters, 


u 


1835 to 1838. 




William W. Ellsworth, 


u 


1838 to 1842. 




Chancey F. Cleveland, 


u 


1842 to 1844. 




Roger S. Baldwin, . 


a 


1844 to 1846. 




Isaac Toucey, 


u 


1846 to 1847. 




Clark Bisse], 


u 


1847 to 1849. 




Joseph Trumbull, 


(( 


1849 to 4850. 




Thomas H. Seymour, 


(( 


1850 to 1853. 




Charles H. Pond, by resi 


g- 






nation of Seymour, 


ii 


1853 to 1854. 




Henry Dutton, 


ii 


1854 to 1855. 




William T. Minor, . 


a 


1855 to 1857. 





APPENDIX. 229 

The folio wino: are the votes of the town for Electors 
to elect a President and Vice-President of the 
United States, since 1820, before which time the 
Electors weie chosen by the Legislature : — 

In 1820, Monroe rec'd 34. Opposition 0. Scattering 0. 

In l%24:, Adams '" 28. " 1. " 0. 

In \^2S, Jackson " 24. Adams 89. " 0. 

In 1832, e/acArsoTi " 166. Opposition 73. " 47. 

IwlQ^Q, Van Bur en"- 102. Harrison 64. " 0. 

In 1840,^arm.')w "309. V Buren 337. " 6. 

In 1844, PoZ^ "355. Clay 348. Birney 14. 

In 1848, Taylor " 316. Cass 234. V Buren 49. 

In \%b2, Pierce "371. Scott 310. Hale 20. 

In \d>bQ, Buchanan " 377. Fremont 385. FiUmorellG. 

The column in italics are the successful candi- 
dates. When the town first began voting for electors, 
little interest was taken in the result, which accounted 
for the paucity of the votes cast. In the vote of 1856, 
probably every vote was cast which ought to have 
been deposited. Men were brought from their sick 
beds, and the greatest excitement prevailed. 

Town Officers in 1855. 

Samuel Close, . Cleric and Register^ 

Augustus Mead, . . Treasurer. 
Benjamin W. Husted, Selectman. 

Allen Sutton, . . " 

Levi Mead, . . " 

11 



^6V APPENDIX. 


Augustus Mead, . 


Town Agent. 


^William H. Dusenbuiy, 


Constable. 


John Dayton, 


u 


Sliadracli Smith, 


(C 


Charles Ferris, 


u 


Philander Button, 


Grand Juror. 


John B. Wilson, . 


u u 


Calvin Purdy, 


a a 


Ard Knapp, 


Assessor. 


Cornelius Ford, 


u 


John B. Wilson, . 


a 


Selah Savage, . 


a 


John P. Grigg, 


u 


James Wilson, 


Board of Relief. 


Augustus Mead, . 


u u 


Edwin Keeler, 


a u 


Seth Lyon, 


Surveyor. 


Wm. H. Dusenberry, 


u 


George J. Smith, 


Collector. 


*Jacob D. L. M. Armour, 


Justice of the Peace 


John Banks, . 


U t( 


Gideon Close, 


u u 


Isaac 0. Close, 


u u 


George Derby, 


c( a 


William A. Ferris, 




l^athan Finch, 


u u 


Conklin Husted, 


a ii. 


Ezra Keeler, 


a u 


Ard Knapp, 


u a 



* All of this list did not take the oath, though all were elected. 





APPENDI3 


r 




Seth Lyon, 




Justice of the Pe 


Alvan Mead, . 


• 






Augustus Mead, . 


• 




a 


Drake Mead, 


• 






Elkanah Mead, 


, 






Solomon Mead, 


• 






Samuel Mills, 


\ 






Augustus R. Kewman, 






Selah Savage, 


• 






John B. Wilson, 


• 


u u 


Town 


Officers in 1856. 


Samuel Close, 


, 


Clerk. 


Joseph E. Brush, 


• 


Register. 


Augustus Mead, . 


. 


Treasurer. 


Allen Sutton, . 


, 


Selectman. 


Thomas A. Mead, . 


, 


u 


Levi Mead, 


, 


a 


Levi Mead, 


• 


Town Agent. 


George J. Smith, 


. 


Collector. 


William H. Dusenberry, . 


Constable. 


John Dayton, . 




u 


Philander Button, . 


• 


Grand Juror. 


Seth B. Downs, 




a u 


James Wilson, 


• 


Assessor. 


Jabez Mead, jun. 




u 


Josephus Palmer, . 


• 


u 


Elkanah Mead, 




u 


Benjamin Page, 


• 


u 


Solomon Mead, 




Board of Belief. 



231 



261i APPENDIX. 


Ezra Keeler, 


Board of Relief, 


Isaac 0. Close . 


u a 


SethLyon, . 


Surveyor. 


Wiiliam H. Dusenberry, 


a 


Rev. George H. Dunbar, 


BcTi, Visitor Sec. So 


George A. Palmer, 


a a 


Rev. Frederick Munson, 


u u 


Seth Lyon, 


(( u 


Julius B. Curtis, . 


a a 


Philander Button, 


6i u 


Merritt Geralds, 


a u 


Wm. H. Dusenberry, . 


a a 



Town Officers in IS 67. 
Samuel Close, . . Clerk and Register. 



Augustus Mead, 
Ard Knapp, 
Titus Mead, 
George Ferris, 
George J. Smith, 
George J. Smith, . 
John Dayton, . 
Charles Ferris, 
B. F. Husted, . 
George B. Christison. 
Isaac Weed, 
John B. "Wilson, . 
Jabez Mead, jun. 
Gilbert P. Finch, . 
Henry Dayton. 



Treasurer. 
Selectman, 



u 



Collector, 
Constable. 



a 



a 



(( 



(( 



Grand Juror, 



a 



u 



a 



a 



u 



(( 



APPENDI3 


L« 


John B. Wilson, 


Assessor. 


Jabez Mead, jim. 


u 


B. F. Husted, 


(C 


Benjamin Page. 


iC 


James Wilson, 


Board of Relief, 


Gideon Close, . 


a u 


Brush Knapp, 


(( (( 


William H. Dusenberrj, 


Surveyor. 


Seth Lyon, 


u 



233 



Board of School Visitors. 

Gideon Close, Chairman. 

Daniel M. Mead, Clerk and Acting Visitor^ and 
Examining Committee. 

James H. Hoyt, Examining Committee. 

Joseph K. Stearns, Acting Visitor^ and Examin- 
ing Committee. 

Samuel Mills, . . Visitor. 

Joseph E. Russell, . '' 

Jacob R. Williams, . " 

Silas Husted, . . " 

George Derby . . " 

Justices of the Peace for 1857. 

Joseph Brush, William L. Lyon^ 

C. Silas Burley, Augustus Mead, 

* Gideon Close^ Drake Mead, 

* Those in italics only, have taken the prescribed oath and are 
acting justices. 



234: 



APPENDIX. 



George Derby ^ 
William A. Ferris, 
Daniel M. Griffin, 
Benjamin F, Husted^ 
Conklin Husted, 
Ezra Keeler^ 
Ard Knapp, 

John B. 



Titus Mead, 
Augustus R. Newman, 
"William Newman, 
Samuel Peck, 
Joseph E. Russel^ 
Minot S. Scofield, 
James "Wilson, 
Wilson. 



Officers of the Borough for 1857. 



Solomon Mead, 


Warden. 


Samuel Close, . 


Burgess. 


Alvan Mead, 


u 


Thomas A. Mead, 


a 


Philander Button, . 


u 


James W. Dominick, . 


a 


Eobert W. Mead, . 


ClerJc and Treasurer. 


John Dayton, . 


Bailif. 


Julius B. Curtis, . 


Attorney. 



APPENDIX. 235 



BUSINESS DIRECTORY 

FOR THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE 

TOWN OF GREENWICH, 

FOR 1857. 



BLACKSMITHING. 

William Scofielcl keeps a blacksmith-shop, con- 
nected with the carriage-raaking business, in the 
village, a few feet north of Sniffin's Corner, on the 
road leading to Pecksland and Glenville. 

Moses Sargent keeps a shop on Bush's Point, at 
Lower Coscob, near the ship-yard. 

Ephraim Lane also keeps a shop at Coscob Til- 
lage ; all kinds of blacksmithing done. 

Abraham S. Palmer keeps a shop at Mianus, con- 
nected with a wheelwright's shop. 

BOARDING- AND SELECT SCHOOLS. 

Lewis Howe, A.M., a graduate of Yale College, 
is the principal of an excellent institution, situated 
on a beautiful eminence, one door west of the Second 
Congregational Church. All the branches of edu- 



2S(J APPENDIX. 

cation, including music and the languages, are 
taught. And every facility is offered to the student. 

Mrs. Hess keeps an excellent private school for 
small children, in Mechanic street. 

Philander Button, A.M., a graduate of Yale Col- 
lege, is the principal of the Greenwich Academy, 
on the corner of Main and North streets. All the 
branches of an English education are taught, with 
Latin and Greek ; and the institution is in an ex- 
ceedingly flourishing condition. 

Prof. B. A. Norville, formerly Professor in "West- 
ern Keserve College, and Conductor of Music in 
Centre Church, New Haven, has a full class in 
music throughout the year, and receives those 
desiring a thoroughly finished musical education by 
the term, as boarders, at his place of residence in 
Greenwich Avenue. 

Miss Elathea Newman^ s private school, at 
Mianus, is much appreciated as an excellent school 
by those in the vicinity. 

BUTCHERING AND MEAT-SHOPS. 

Henry Held keeps a shop for the sale of all kinds 
of meat, on the west side of Greenwich Avenue, a 
few rods from the corner of Main street. 

Wm, H. Henderson. Shop in Greenwich avenue, 
opposite Mead and Dayton's building. 

Amos M. Brush c& Co. Shop at Coscob village. 

J. Home <& Co. Shop at Mianus. 

Isaac 0. Close. Shop at Eoundhill. 



APPENDIX. 



23T 



CABINET-MAKER. 

Mr. Hunt. Shop in Greenwich avenue, connect- 
ed with sash and blind making. 

Stephen Stoothoff, near Kailroad Depot, connected 
with general carpenter work. 

CAKPENTEKING. 

Isaac Weed. Shop in Greenwich avenue. 
Charles Timpany. Shop at the village of Coscob. 

William Eddy. Shop at Mianus. 

William H. Lyon, at East Portchester. 
Many others are engaged in this business, but 
these are the heaviest contractors. 

CARRIAGE-MAKING. 

Joseph E. Biossel, one door north of Sniffin's 
corner, on road to Pecksland ; connected with a 
blacksmith's shop. 

Elijah Lent. All kinds of Snished carriage- 
building, at the shop in Mechanic street. 

COAL 

For sale, by E. Husted, at Caleb W. Merritt's Dock. 

CLOCKS REPAIRED. 

Jonas Mead, jun., a few doors from Sniffin's 
corner, on the road to Pecksland. 

DRESSMAKERS. 

Mrs. William E. Ferris, in Mechanic street. 
Mrs. Sarah Peek, at Humphrey Denton's. 
IP 



238 APPENDIX. 

3£rs. Gilbert Marshall and Miss Wilmot, at 
Coscob. 

The Misses Davies, at MI anus. 

FACTORIES. 

Screw and Bolt Factory of Russel, Birdsall & 
Ward, on the Byram River, a half-mile below Glen- 
ville. 

Tinners'^ Tools Factory of Josiah "Wilcox, on 
Bjram River, two miles north of Glenville. 

Isham's Factory^ at Glenville. 

Rolling Mills^ Burrington Hides, agent, on the 
Mian us River, at Dumpling Pond. 

Sash and Blind Factory of Charles Timpany, a 
few rods north of Coscob village. 

HOTELS. 

Augustus Lyon keeps the Mansion House, on the 
corner of Greenwich avenue and Main street. 

Jacoh T. Weed keeps Weed's Hotel, on Main 
street, nearly opposite Greenwich avenue. 

M7's. Bancroft^ on Main street. 

Joseph F. Page keeps the Railroad House, at 
Coscob Yillage. 

ICE. 

John Henderson will supply the people through 
the season with pure crystal ice. 

INSURANCE OFFICE. 

Greenwich Mutual Fire Insurance Company, 
office over the Post-office. Augustus Mead, Presi- 
dent y G. J. Smith, Secretary, 



APPENDIX. 239 



lawyers' offices. 



Daniel M. Mead^ Attorney and Counselor for 
Connecticut and Kew York, and Commissioner of 
the Superior Court. Office in Mead and Dayton's 
Building, on Greenwich avenue, second story, front 
room. All kinds of conveyancing carefully attended 
to. 

Julius B. Curtis, Attorney and Counselor at 
Law, and Commissioner of the Superior Court. 
Office in Lyon's Building, on Main street, second 
story. All kinds of conveyancing carefully attended 
to. 

MERCHANTS. 

Francis Dauohy, agent for William Hoyt Oppo- 
site the head of Greenwich avenue, in Main street. 
A very extensive assortment of dry goods and 
groceries for sale. 

Peter Acker keeps for sale a constant supply of 
dry goods and groceries at the Old Stand, on the 
corner of Greenwich avenue and Main street. 

Ahi'aham Aclier. Store in Lyon's Building, Main 
street. 

Joseph E^ Brush. Dry goods and groceries, on 
the corner of Mechanic and Main streets. 

John Henderson. Confectionery, Main street. 

Benja^min Peclt. General assortment of goods, 
Main street, one door from Mechanic street. 

Henry S. Banhs, Glenville Bridge. Dry goods 
and groceries. 

Mosher & Co., Glenville. Groceries. 



210 APPENDIX. 

Gould Sellech^ Coscob. Dry goods and groceries. 

A. and H. Brush c& Co, Dry goods and groceries, 
Coscob Tillage. 

Lockwood P. Clarlc. Groceries, Coscob. 

Joseph Home <& Co. Dry goods and groceries. 
Mianus. 

Charles Ferris^ do, Mianus. 

Newman and Hewes, dry goods and groceries. 
Contractors for sewing and general tailoring. 

Jesse L. Wessels^ East Portchester. 

MILLINERY. 

Mrs. Coles ^ in Main street. 

Mrs. Elliot, near Railroad Depot. 

The Misses Lane, at Coscob Village. 

PHYSICIANS. 

Dr. Darius Mead. Residence on the brow of 
Putnam's Hill. 

Dr. James H. Hoyt. Residence in the center of 
the village, on Main street. 

Dr. Bartow F. White. Residence is at Round-hill. 

Dr. Charles C. Allen. Residence at Coscob Vil- 
lage. 

SADDLERY. 

William Mead. Shop a half-a-mile north of 
Putnam's Hill. 

Kpenetus Sniffin, on Sniffin's Corner in the Vil- 
lage. 



APPENDIX. 



241 



SALOONS. 

John H. Merritt. On Greenwich avenue. Oys- 
ters and ice-cream all in their season. 

John Henderson. On Main street, about the 
center of Tillage. All the delicacies in their season. 

Joseph E, Page, at Coscob Yillage. All kinds 
of refreshment in their season. 

SHIP-YAKD. 

The ship-yard of Chard, Duff & Palmer, at 
Coscob, has turned out many elegant, durable, and 
fast-sailing vessels. 

SEXTONS. 

Jonas Mead, jun., of Second Congregational 
Church. 

John Hancock, of Episcopal Church. 
Gilbert Marshall, of Methodist E. Church. 
Others not known to the author. 

SHOE-MAKING. 

John Dayton, first floor of Mead and Dayton's 
Building, in Greenwich avenue. An extensive 
assortment of boots, shoes, and gaiters. 

Marshall and Mead, three doors west of Green- 
wich avenue, in Main street. 

Isaac Olmsted, at Coscob. 

Daniel Olmsted^ at his residence on the road to 
Pecksland. 



242 APPENDIX. 

Jonathan Jessup^ at Mianns. 
Henry Dayton^ at Mianus. 

STABLES AND CONVEYANCES. 

Edward Angevine. Stage line from Depot to 
every part of the town. 
John D. Elliot^ do. 
Samuel EincKs line from Banks ville. 

TAILORS. 

George Slllick^ at J. E. Brush's store, in Main st. 
J. Home (& Co.^ at Mianus. 
Newman & Hewes^ Mianus. 

WHEELWRIGHTS. 

Jonas Mead^ jun.^ at the Tillage. 
Humphrey D. Mead & Co., at Glen ville. 
Kobert M. Harris, at Mianus. 

GRAND LISTS. 

The following are the Lists of the town for several 
consecutive years, in the earlier and later periods of 
tlie history of Greenwich. 

Date. liist in Pounds. 

1665, .... £1,434: Os. 

1666, .... 1,607 IT 

1667, .... 3,632 14 

1668, .... 1,609 15 

1669, . . . . 1,667 10 

1670, . . , . 1,897 5 





APPENDIX. 


M3 


1671, 


• • 


£1,806 


1672, 


• • • 


. 1,162 


1673, 


• • 


2,060 5 


1674, 


• • • 


. 1,915 


1675, 


• • 


1,950 


1676, thirty-six 


freeholders. 


. 1,719 


1677, forty 


do 


1,822 


1694, sixty-six 


do 


. 2,638 8 

List in Dollars. 


1854, 


• • 


$2,495,215 


1855, 


• • • 


. 2,680,304 


1856, 


• • 


2,748,578 



For a considerable period after the incorporation 
of the town, it was by far the smallest in the valua- 
tion of the Grand List. And while its valuation 
was less than two thousand pounds, that of the 
neighboring town of Stamford was more than six 
thousand. They are now about equal. 

SCHOOL DISTKICTS IN GREENWICH. 

The following are the names of the various school 
districts in the town, with the number of persons be- 
tween the ages of four and sixteen in each district, 
on the first of January, 1857. 

1. Old Greenwich, ... 79 

2. Palmer Hill, . . . .33 

3. Mianus East, .... 61 

4. Mianus West, . . . .47 

5. Steep Hollow, .... 105 



244 



APPENDIX. 



6. Coscob, 


. 108 


7. North Coscob, . 


58 


8. Meeting-honse, 


. 321 


9. JSTorth Street, . 


39 


10. Stanwich, Upper, . 


. 73 


11. " Lower, 


102 


12. Eound Hill, 


. 103 


13. Pecksland, 


40 


14. Clabbord Eidge, . 


. 43 


15. Bjram, including East Portcbester 


, . 15T 


16. Factory, . . . . 


. 51 


IT. King street, Lower, 


32 


18. « Upper, 


. 51 


19. Quaker Eidge, 


55 


20. Eiverville, 


. 59 



1627 



The school-houses of the Coscob and Meeting- 
house school-districts were built in 1851, the former 
at an expense of about $1,450, including the land, 
the latter at an expense of about $8,000. A forty- 
cent tax was laid in the Meeting-house district 
for the purpose. The building committee were 
Augustus Mead, Zaccheus Mead, and William L. 
Lyon, Esqs. 

North Greenwich, Old Greenwich, Factory, and 
Pecksland districts, also built new houses about this 
time. TheEiversville District has now (1857) com- 
menced a school house of stucco. The building is 
octagonal in shape, with a porch toward the south. 

The East Portchester District was set off by the 



APPENDIX. 245 

town about the 1st of December, 1856 ; and the se- 
lectmen placed the boundaries soon after, which was 
indorsed by the town at a succeeding town-meeting. 
East Portchester is a thriving village, on the east- 
ern bank of the Byram river. The land on which 
it stands was purchased from a neighboring farmer, 
and laid out in building lots, only four or five years 
since. It has built up so rapidly that there are now 
ninety-four children within the limits of the school- 
district. 

INDIAN NAMES. 
Indian. • Modern. 

Patommog, . . Patommuck Brook. 

Asamuck, . . . Asamuck Brook. 

Myanos, or Mehanas, Mianus River. 

Petuaqupaen, . . Coscob and Old Green- 
wich. 

Betuckquapock, . . Dumpling Pond. 

Miossehasseky, . . Horseneck and vicinity. 

Sioascock, . . . Greenwich. 

Minniwies, or Menusing, Manursing Island. 

Armonck, or Cokamong, Byram River. 

Pimpewig, . . Pimpewig Brook, 

Haseco, ... Portchester. 

Poningoe, . . . Town of Rye. 

Mockquams, . . . Blind Brook. 

Quaroppas, . . White Plains. 

Quinnehtuqut, . . Connecticut. 

Rippowams, . . Stamford. 

Mohiccannitack, . . Hudson River. 



246 APPENDIX. 

Sewanhackj or Mentoac, 

land of shells, . Long Island. 

Monakewego, . . Elizabeth, or Greenwich 

Point. 
Muhhekanno, . . Seven "Mohegan" tribes 

on coast. 

CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 

14:92. Columbus discovered America. 

1494. John and Sebastian Cabot discovered !N"orth 

America. 

1524. John Yerazzani do. do. 

1602. Bartholomew Gosnold do. do. 

1609. Hendrick Hudson discovered Hudson River. 

1614. Adrien Block discovered Connecticut. 

1614. Greenwich discovered by Adrien Block. 

1620. Landing of Pilgrims at Plj^mouth Rock. 

1631. Old Patent of Connecticut issued. 

1633. First house built in Connecticut by English. 
1633. do. do. do. by Dutch. 

1635. Famine in Connecticut. 

1636. First General Court in Connecticut. 
1640. Settlement of Greenwich. 

1642. Greenwich ceded to the Dutch. * 

1643. Indians massacred at jN'ew Amsterdam. 
164i. First expedition against Petuquapaen. 

1644. Capt. Daniel Patrick shot by a Dutch officer. 

1645. Petuquapaen finally destroyed. 

1650. Boundary line of Connecticut removed to 
west side of Greenwich. 



APPENDIX. 



247 



1656. Eiotous inhabitants threatened by General 

Court. 
1656. Settlement by Mead, Studwell, Hobby, and 

Hubbard, with several others, mostly coming 

from Long Island. 
1664. Boundary line removed to Mamaroneck Kiver. 
1666. First school-house built. 

1672. 27 proprietors purchased West Greenwich. 

1673. Eye still accounted a part of Connecticut. 
1676. Eev. Mr. Wizwale invited to preach. 
1678. Eev. Mr. Peck came and settled. 

1681. First recorded marriage is that of John Mead, 

jun., to Miss Euth Hardey. 
1683. Boundary of Connecticut settled at Byram 

Eiver. 
1685. Grist mill built at Dumpling Pond. 

1688. Number of legal voters, forty-nine. 

1689. Eev. Jeremiah Peck dismissed. 
1691. Eev. Abraham Pierson preaching. 
1691. Yoted to have a 7iew meeting-house. 

1694. Mr. Pierson left Greenwich. 

1695. Mr. Salmon Treat commenced preaching. 

1695. Grand List £2,638 8s. 

1696. John Mead's "Will. 

1697. Mr. Treat left the town. 

1697. Eev. Joseph Morgan began preaching. 

1700. Eev. ISTathaniel Bowers settles in Old Green- 
wich. 

1700. Eev. Joseph Morgan moves to Horseneck. 

1703. Town-meetings began to be held one-half time 
in Horseneck. 



248 APPENDIX. 

1704. Eev. George Muirson, an Episcopal clergy- 
man, preached in Greenwich occasionally, he 
being settled over the parish at Rye. 

1705. Mr. Morgan builds mill at Indian Harbor. 
1705. Final separation of the town into two religious 

societies. Permanent articles of agreement 

made. 
1708. Mr. Morgan dismissed from active duty as 

minister at Horseneck. 
1707 or 1708. Mr. ISTathaniel Bowers left preaching 

in Old Greenwich. During a short period 

here, neither society had a minister. 
1713. A question of reunion of the societies arose, 

which was never carried out. 

1716. Mill and dock built at mouth of Horseneck 
Brook. 

1717. Rev. Richard Sackett commenced preaching 
at Horseneck 

1724. Horseneck Brook Dock enlarged. 

1727. Rev. Mr, Sackett died. 

1728. Rev. Stephen Munson settled at Horseneck. 
1730. Rev. Mr. Munson died in May. 

1732. Rev. Abraham Todd settled at Horseneck. 

1739. War declared against Spain by Gr^at Britain. 

1740. Rev. James Wetmore, an Episcopal church- 
man, settled at Rye, preached regularly once 
a month in Greenwich. 

1744. War declared against France by Great Britain. 

1745. Mrs. Ruth Peck, wife of Samuel Peck, died. 

1746. Death of Samuel Peck, aged 90. 



APPENDIX. 249 

1747. Kev. Ebenezer Dibble, D.D., an Episcopal 
clergyman preached one half the time at 
Greenwich, and the other half at Stamford. 

1748. Peace concluded with France and Spain. 

1749. First Episcopal church built. 

1755. Second war with France begun. 

1756. War actually declared in May. 

1759. Connecticut troops at Ticonderoga, and a 
company from Greenwich among them. 

1760. Peace again concluded with France. 
1763. Permission to David Bush to build a mill. 
1768. Town petitioned to make Norwalk a shire- 
town. 

1774. On the 21st of March, the town takes prompt 
action in opposition to a suit before the King, 
in reference to western lands. 

1774. On the 17th of October, the town takes 
strong action in favor of a revolution, and 
appoints a committee to raise sums by sub- 
scription, to be sent to Boston. 

1775. February the 8th, Dr. Amos Mead and John 
Mackay were appointed delegates to a County 
Conorress. 

1775. December 13th, thirteen persons were ap- 
pointed a Committee of Safety. 

1776. Jesse Parsons, Town Clerk, died July 26th. 

1777. Remonstrance against Col. Enos's conduct. 

1778. January 12th, doings of Continental Congress 
indorsed. 

1778. December 14th, Tories outlawed. 



250 APPENDIX. 

1779. Gov. Tryon makes his expedition to Horse- 
neck on the 26th of February. Gen. Putnam 
makes his daring escape from the band of 
Tories under the command of Thomas Merritt. 

1780. Town House and law books sold. 

1781. The skirmish of King street. The Americans 
under Lieut. Mosher, and the British under 
Col. Holmes. 

1783-4. Petition of the town to be released from 
taxes for these years, and to be paid the 
amount of damages sustained. 

1784. The Church call the Consociation to dismiss 
Rev. John Murdock. 

1787. Liberty granted to the brothers Titus to 
rebuild their mills at Mianus. 

1787. Dr. Amos Mead and Col. Jabez Fitch ap- 
pointed delegates to the convention to ratify 
or disapprove of the Federal Constitution. 

1793. The town oppose the clergy fund. 

1802. Proposition to build a Town-house was voted 
down. 

1803. Opposed the Turnpike road. 

1812. "War broke out in June. 

1813. "Wondrous display of valor. 

1818. Clark Sauford, Esq., and Enos' Lockwood, 
Esq., elected delegates to the State Constitu- 
tional Convention, which was held on the 
fourth Wednesday in August. 

1828. A great many sheep killed by dogs. 

1834. Town-meeting held at Methodist church, at 
Mianus. 



APPENDIX. 251 

1835. Yoted to build a Town House. 

1836. Town meeting held at new house. 
1850. The grand finale of Skimetons. 
1853. Greenwich a Probate District. 

1856. Trial of Glenville-road case. 

1857. History of Greenwich published. 

THE SECOND CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY. 

The final separation of the second from the old 
Congregational Society by their recorded agree- 
ment did not take place until the year 1705. But 
a virtual separation took place in 1700, when the 
Old Greenwich people, having contracted a dislike 
for Mr. Morgan, because of certain favors which he 
granted to Horseneck, refused to hear him, and 
asked the Reverend ^Nathaniel Bowers to preach to 
them; and the Horseneck people invited Mr. Mor- 
gan to preach to them exclusively. A more minute 
history of the doings of the town in relation to that 
matter, may be found upon the preceding pages of 
this volume. 

Mr. Morgan seems to have preached regularly to 
the congregation of the Second Society, only until 
1708 ; after which time the pulpit was filled by him 
and other transient preachers until 1717, when a 
call was extended to the Rev. Richard Sackett, who 
came and preached for the Society to the time of his 
death, which occurred in 1727. He was succeeded 
by the Rev. Stephen Munson, who came here in 



252 APPENDIX. 

1728, built Mr. Solomon Mead's old house, and 
preached until his death, which occurred only two 
years after, in May, 1730. His next settled succes- 
sor was the Rev. Abraham Todd, who settled in 
1733 and preached until his death, which occurred 

1773, after forty years' service as pastor. He was 
buried in the old burying-ground, in Davis' lane. 
In 1769 the Society " hy "cote ivipowered Mr. Tod 
to desire one or more persons to tune the Psalm as 
he shall see proper." 

After the death of Mr. Todd (of whom, and the 
pastors which preceded him, much more is said in 
the body of this work). Rev. Amos Butler and 
others supplied the pulpit for about a year. In 

1774, Capt. John Grigg: and Henry Mead, being 
appointed a committ-ee for that purpose, extended 
a call to Rev. Jonathan Murdock. The salary 
offered him was one hundred pounds, and a bonus 
of two hundred pounds, one- third of which was to 
be paid in three months, one-third at the end of the 
first year, and the remainder at the end of the second 
year. Mr. Murdock accepted the call, and had an 
immediate settlement, Oct. 20th, 1777. " Further 
the society voted that Mr. Murdock be appointed 
to say when the Psalms shall be read line by line, 
there being often several strangers who have no 
book." During the year 1781, Mr. Murdock released 
the Society from paying his salary, on account of 
their poverty, and did not preach. 

On the first Monday in April the Society fully 



APPENDIX. 253 

concurred with the church in requesting Mr. Mur- 
dock to unite with them in asking for his dismission, 
after the question had been seriously considered 
through several meetings. On his refusal to unite 
with his church and congregation, the people pre- 
pared the grave charges against him, found upon a 
preceding page of this work. They finally, how- 
ever, compromised the matter by the payment to 
Mr. Murdock, of the one years' salary which he had 
previously released ; and he united with his oppo- 
nents and obtained a dismission. 

Rev. Mr. Austen followed him, and preached as 
supply for a period of six months, when Rev. Isaac 
Lewis, afterwards Doctor of Divinity, preached for 
three months with a view to settlement. After- 
wards, on the 24:th of August 1786, a call to settle 
was extended to him, which was answered by letter 
On the 19th of the following September, as follows : 

To the Church and Members of the West Society in 
Greenwich. 

Brethren and Friends, — Your choice of me as your pastor, 
and the offers you have made for my temporal support, have 
been duly considered. I thank you for the confidence you 
have put in me, and for the generosity of your proposals. 
Would, however, observe that in order to my reaping the 
benefit from the parsonage lands, which, I have no doubt, 
the society really intends me, it will be necessary that they 
be put in proper repair, with suitable division fence. If the 
Society will see this matter accomplished and your unanim- 
ity continues, I will accept the important office to which you 
12 



254 APPENDIX. 

have cliosen me. Humbly relying on the all-sufficiency of 
Divine Grace to enable me to discharge its duties and earn- 
estly requesting a union of your prayers with mine to the 
Great Head of the Church, that the proposed relation may 
be a mutual and lasting blessing, — 

I am, Brothers, your cordial friend and servant in the 
Lord. 

ISAAC LEWIS. 

The request of Mr. Lewis was granted, and he was 
soon afterwards settled in the work of the ministry, 
with one hundred pounds salary. 

For several years previous to 1798, the subject of 
a new meeting-house was brought up and discussed ; 
but the subject failed to meet the approbation of the 
Society, until, on the 15th of January, 1798, the 
Society "judged it necessary to build a new meet- 
ing-house. The question being put, there appeared 
more than three quarters in the affirmative." 

" Further voted that they accept of the proposals 
of the subscribers. Then voted that Abraham 
Husted be the Treasurer to receive the subscribers' 
money." The Society then voted that '^ Decon 
Abraham Mead" and Benjamin Mead, Esqs., be a 
committee to superintend the purchase of materials, 
and defraying the necessary expenses qf building 
said house. Yoted, that the above committee pro- 
ceed, as soon as the season will admit, to build the 
ineeting-house. Further voted, that the committee 
should contract to have it built by the great if they 
think it necessary. The meeting dismist by vote." 
"Kecorded by elOB LYOE", Clerk." 



APPENDIX. 



255 



SUBSCRIPTION LIST. 

We, the subscribers, inhabitants of the West Society in 
Greenwich, do promise to pay unto Abraham Husted, the 
sum in money annexed to our several names, viz. one third 
of such subscribed sum on the first day of March next, and 
one third on the first day of June next, and one third on the 
first day of October next, to be apphed to the only purpose 
of and for building a meeting house or a church for public 
worship in said Society, which house is to be made of wood, 
and in length fifty-two feet, in width forty feet, and in height 
twenty-one feet, with a steeple of a suitable length and to 
be set on the same spot of ground or within eight rods of 
the same where the present house stands, which money so 
subscribed shall by the said Husted be paid to such persons 
or person who shall by the subscribers be appointed to 
superintend the purchase of materials and defraying the 
necessary expenses of completing said house, and this sub- 
scription to be in force if three thousand dollars are sub- 
scribed, if not to be void. 

Dated at Greenwich the 23d day of November, 1797. 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 



Amos Mead, 


$125 


Lois Holly, 


$5 


Richard Mead, 


125 


Jerusha Graham, . 


100 


Abraham Mead, 


250 


Peter Avery, 


2 


Zaccheus Mead, 


60 


Joshua Banks, 


5 


Jared Mead, 


125 


Nathaniel Ferris, 


2 


Jonah Mead, 


125 


John Banks, 


5 


Benjamin Peck, . 


40 


John Addington, 


9 


Robert Mead, 


125 


Henry Grigg, 


10 


Nehemiah Mead, jr., . 


70 


Stephen Holmes, 


15 


Peter A. Burtis, 


60 


David Holmes, 


. 10 


George Lockwood, 


30 


Nehemiah Mead, 


30 


Wm. Skidmore, 


30 


Peter Husted, 


70 


Joseph Reynolds, 


20 


Abraham Husted, 


70 


Phebe Mead, 


5 


Joshua Mead, 


. 100 



256 



Ai*PENDIX. 



Ebenezer Mead, . 
Job Lyon, 
Isaac Weed, 
George More, 
Peter Mead, 
Margaret Knapp, 
Jabez Fitch, 
Amos Green, 
Benj. Holmes, 
Ebenezer Hubby, 
Squire Hubby, . 
Squire Hubby, 
Squire Holly, 
Noah Stiles, . 
Isaac Holly, 
Reuben Holmes, 
Hardy Mead, 
Shadrach Mead, 
Martha Ritch, . 
Lydia Reynolds, 
Theophilus Peck, 
Solomon Peck, 
Thomas Hubby, jr 
Charles Peck, 
Jeffery Felmetta, 
John Hobby, 
Justus Sackett, . 
Nathaniel Mead, jr 
Jacob Fletcher, . 
Thomas Hubly, 
Jabez M. Hobby, 
Hezekiah Hobby, 
Peter Moe, 
Stephen Davis, 
Justus B. Mead, 
Israel Peck, . 
Titus Mead, 
Abraham Mead, 
Amos Mead, 
Samuel Peck, jr., 
Gideon Close, . 



$100 
45 



46 

5 

60 

5 

10 
SO 
25 
5 
5 
5 
25 
15 
10 
25 
4 
12 
20 
3 
15 
20 
15 
20 
25 
10 
10 
30 
15 
15 
3 
10 
10 
30 
40 
10 
10 
15 
10 



Abraham Reynolds, 
Joshua Mead,- 
RobertMead, . 
Daniel Banks, . 
Sarah Mead, . 
Nehemiah Mead, jr 
Ebenezer Mead, 
Abraham Mead, 
Ambrose Reynolds 
Eliphalet Peck, . 
John Mills, . 
James Knapp, . 
Charles Lyon, 
Nathaniel Peck, 
Caleb Lyon, . 
Oliver Fairchild, 
Gilbert Peck, 
Nathaniel Finch 
David Brown, 
Robert Peck, jr., 
James Brovrn, 
Gilbert Close, 
Hannah Peck, 
Samuel Peck, 
Nathaniel Mead, 
Gideon Peck, 
David Mead, . 
Benj. Mead, 
Caleb Lyon, jr., 
Reuben Green, jr., 
Elisha Belcher, 
Isaac Peck, jr., . 
Jabez Husted, 
Levi Ingersoll, . 
Daniel Davis, 
Matthew Mead, . ' 
Matthew Mead, jr , 
Silas Mead, jr., and 
Abner Mead, 

Total, 



$10 

30 

15 

10 

12 

18 

25 

50 

40 

1 

5 

2 

4 

6 

6 

5 

5 

25 

8 

20 

5 

10 

6 

80 

80 

6 

40 

100 

10 

5 

30 

20 

10 

1 

3 

1 

1 

70 



$3,076 



It will be noticed that the names of some are re- 
peated more than once, they having made an addi- 



APPENDIX. 257 

tioDal subscription in order to secure the raising of 
the three thousand dollars, which was called for. 
The house was placed ten or twelve feet south of the 
old one, and the former house was moved out of the 
way and left standing for use during the building of 
the new one. After the completion of this build- 
ing, which was not walled, David Webb, Orrin 
Marvin, and Enos Knapp were appointed arbitrators, 
to decide whether the building was completed in a 
workmanlike manner. Their decision was against 
the builders ; and they decreed that the amount of 
four hundred and thirty dollars and fifty cents should 
be deducted from the amount to be received by the 
builders. The seats were taken out of the old house, 
and put in the new one. The cost of the steeple 
was $197,33. 



FIRST SALE OP PEWS. 



No. 



1. 


To Isaac Lewis, D.D., 


Gratis, 


2. 


" ISTehemiah Mead, 3d, 


$8 60 


3. 


" Jerad Mead, 


. 6 00 


4. 


" Joshua Mead, 


4 50 


5. 


" Benjamin Mead, 


. 5 00 


6. 


" Dr. Shadrach Mead, 


4 50 


7. 


" Richard Mead, . 


. 3 60 


8. 


" Richard Mead, 


3 75 


9. 


" Gilbert Peck, 


. 2 00 


10. 


" Solomon Peck, 


1 00 


11. 


" Abraham Mead, 


. 2 00 



258 APPENDIX. 



No. 12. 


To 


> BeDJamin Mead, 


3 00 


" 13. 




Silas Mead, 


. 2 50 


" 14. 




Benjamin Holmes, . 


1 25 


" 15. 




Zaccheiis Mead, . 


. 1 00 


" 16. 




ITeliemiali Mead, 


1 75 


" 17. 




Eobert Mead, 


. 2 00 


" 18. 




Jonathan Close, 


2 25 


" 19. 




Peter Mead, 


. 3 00 


" 20. 




John K. Cosine, 


7 00 


" 21. 




Gilbert Close, 


. 5 00 


" 22. 




Abraham Mead, 


6 00 


" 23. 




Stephen Waring, 


11 00 


" 24. 




Peter A. Bnrtis, 


11 00 



Total, ... $97 50 

At the sale of the next year (1803), the same 
pews sold for $202 50. The sexton was paid fifteen 
dollars, for taking care of the church and ringing 
the bell. The latter was imported from England, 
at a cost of one hundred dollars, by Benjamin Mead, 
as may be seen by his bill of sale to the Society, re- 
corded in their books. 

The origin of the Society's fund was in a subscrip- 
tion, made to and accepted by the Society, in 1816. 
The subscription was to be void unless two thousand 
dollars were raised, and the amount was to remain 
upon interest during the pastorate of Dr. Lewis ; and 
after the cease of his ministry, the avails of it were 
to be devoted to the support of the ministry. The 
following persons contributed to the fund : — 



APPENDIX. 



259 



Rev. Isaac Lewis, D.D., 
Abraham Mead, 
Jabez Mead, 
Samuel Peck, 
Elisha Belcher, 
Zophar Mead, 
Isaac Mead, 
Daniel S. Mead, 
Noah and Jonas Mead, 
Zenas Mead, . 
Nehemiah Mead, Jr., . 
Darius Mead, Jr., . 
Reuben Holmes, 
Zaccheus Mead, 
Timothy Walker, 
Jabez M. Hobby, . 
Hezekiah Hobby, 
Nathaniel Hibbard, 
Job Lyon, 
Shadrach Mead, 
Gilbert Close, . 
Isaac Peck, Jr., 
Elias Purdy, 



$50 

150 

100 

25 

100 

200 

200 

50 

100 

100 

100 

25 

15 

50 

25 

25 

20 

50 

50 

50 

50 

50 

25 



Joshua Mead, . 
Robert Mead, 
Stephen Waring, 
Isaac Holly, 
Alvan Mead, . 
David Mead, 
Jonathan Mead, Jr., 
Ambrose Reynolds, 
Gideon Close, 
Israel Peck, 
Eliphalet Peck, 
Piatt Mead, 
Elnathan Husted, 
Jehiel Mead, Jr., 
Silas H. Mead, 
Samuel Close, 
Seymour Hobby, 
Jonah Mead, 
Obadiah Mead, 
Caleb Husted, 
Amos Husted, . 
Aaron Husted, 
Total, 



$50 
50 
50 
25 
50 
50 
60 
50 
50 
30 
85 
15 
50 
40 
50 
5 
25 
100 
35 
15 
25 
25 
2,4T5 



In 1818, Eev. Isaac Lewis, D.D., requested to be 
relinquished from taking farther care of the church, 
after having acted as pastor of the church for tUrty- 
fourje^^YS. The Society voted that he should never 
lack their support, and invited his son, Kev. Isaac 
Lewis, jun., to become their pastor, with a salary of 
eight hundred dollars. He accepted, and was in- 
stalled soon after his letter of acceptance, which was 
dated on the 2d of November, A. D. 1818. At the 
next sale of pews the amount of $299 50 was real- 
ized. In 1821, it was " Yoted, that hereafter, in all 
cases each person who shall bid off a pew in the 
meeting-house, shall procure another person, to the 



260 APPENDIX. 

acceptance of the committee, as security, both of 
whose names shall be entered by the Clerk, and shall 
be considered as joint purchasers of said pew, and 
a failure of such security being procured, said pew 
shall be again put up for sale, and such person 
shall be debarred from bidding again during that 
meeting." 

In 1822, for the first time, the meeting-house was 
warmed by a stove. This innovation was struggled 
against by many, but the minority were obliged to 
endure the innovation. 

In 1827, Silas Harvey Mead, Calvin Mead, Lu- 
ther Mead, Heman Mead, Levi Mead, Darius Mead, 
Obadiah Mead, Jehiel M!ead, Nathaniel Knapp, 
Isaac Peck, 3d, Seymour Hobby, Allen Hobby, 
Gilbert Close, and Sarah Mead, withdrew from this 
Society for the purpose of forming the North Green- 
wich Congregational Society. 

In 1828, a lightning-rod was erected upon the 
steeple. During this year, the Society united with 
the church in desiring the dissolution of the pastoral 
relation existing between them and the Rev. Isaac 
Lewis, jun. Mr. Lewis at first opposed this action ; 
but finally the matter was arranged, and he con- 
sented to leave, after nearly ten years' ministry. 

On the 10th of September, 1828, it was " Yoted, 
that Rev. Noah C. Saxton receive pay at the rate of 
six hundred dollars per annum at the termination 
of his labor, &c. He, with others, filled the minis- 
terial office until 1829. The Society directed the 
fund agents (Zenas Mead and Thomas A. Mead) to 



APPENDIX. 



261 



pay to the North Greenwich Society so much of the , 
fund as had been subscribed by the persons now 
members of that Society ; and afterwards by another 
vote, to pay them so much as had been subscribed 
by persons living north and west of Pimpewig 

Brook. 

In 1829 Eev. Albert Judson acted as supply, at 
the salary of six hundred dollars, and at a special 
meeting on the 29th of May, in the same year, a 
call was extended to tlie Rev. Simeon North, who 
did not accept, although a full salary of eight hun- 
dred dollars was offered. Afterwards, on the 7th of 
January, 1830, a call was extended to the Rev. Joel 
Mann. The vote was 33 yeas, 5 nays, and 11 silent. 
He was at first offered a salary of seven hundred 
dollars, which he refused. By a vote of twenty- 
three to ten, eight hundred dollars was then offered 
him, which he accepted. It was further voted that 
the ground lying northeast of the church (the present 
parsonage place), should be purchased, and that a 
parsonage house should be erected upon it at a cost 
not to exceed the sum of two thousand three hun- 
dred dollars. Out of his salary Mr. Mann was to 
pay a four per cent, rent for the use of this parson- 
age. This was protested against by Stephen Waring, 
William Husted, Ephraim Mead, William Mead, 
Joshua Reynolds, Ambrose Reynolds, jun., Drake 
Mead, Benjamin Reynolds, Daniel Peck, Drake 
Mead, and Peter Mead, on various grounds, but 
chiefly that inasmuch as this is an agricultural com= 
12* 



262 APPENDIX. 

munity, the minister should be like to them ; and the 
old parsonage land, which was by this arrangement 
to be sold, should be retained for the minister to 
farm upon. They cited, in support of this objection, 
the course of life pursued by the venerable Dr. 
Lewis, and Rev. Piatt Buffet, of Stanwich. 

Mr. Mann wrote a long letter of acceptance, 
dated June 12th, 1830. The barn, cistern, &c., at- 
tached to the parsonage were built in 1831. Also 
during this year, the old barrel pulpit was removed 
by individuals having obtained permission from the 
Society, and a more modern one was substituted. 

By a note, dated Nov. 23cl, 1835, Mr. Mann re- 
quested the Society to unite with him in asking for 
his dismission, and at a special meeting held the 
same day, the Society concurred. The Consociation, 
however, refused to dismiss him ; whereupon he 
again applied for a separation, bringing certain 
charges against the church, the principal of which 
was laxity in discipline. Hezekiah Hobby, Samuel 
Close, Drake Mead, John Knapp, A. P. Smith, Wm. 
A. Husted, and John C. Sanford (who wished to 
unite with the Society at Portch ester), withdrew 
from the Society. Also Arad Peck and Solomon 
Peck. Upon the second application, Mr. Mann was 
dismissed, after five years' ministry. 

On the 30th of March, 1837, a call was extended 
to the Pev. IS^oah Coe, wlio accepted and was soon 
after installed. 

In 1839 a special meeting was called to reconsider 



APPENDIX. 263 

a former action of the Society in granting to persons 
the right to erect sheds for horses upon the parson- 
age ground. The former action was sustained, how- 
ever, and the sheds were built. Those who opposed 
the project, were Zenas Mead, Darius Mead, Solo- 
mon Mead, Isaac Mead, Augustus Mead, Abra- 
ham D. Mead, Zophar Mead, Joshua Reynolds, 
Ambrose Reynolds, Jerad Reynolds, Benjamin 
Reynolds, Job Lyon, Isaac Lyon, Eliphalet Peck, 
B. W. Husted, Isaac Mead, jun. The principal 
reasons set forth in their objections were that the 
congregation would be disturbed by the noise of 
carriages passing to and from the sheds, and that 
the encroachment upon the parsonage ground would 
be too great. However, the sheds were placed 
much nearer the church than was at first intended. 

On the 23d of April, 1845, the Society united 
with the church in asking for the dismission of Mr. 
Coe. He refused to concur. 

" 1st. Because it is unnecessary to the accom- 
plishment of your wishes, for you could call the 
Consociation in your own right. 

" 2ond. Because I could not by any act of mine 
share in the responsibility of the measure proposed." 

After receiving this answer, the Society by a vote 
of thirty-one to six, with the church, called the 
Consociation. 

And after a serious and stormy controversy before 
the Consociation, Mr. Coe was dismissed after an 
eight ye^<rs' ministry, Rev. Frederick G. Clark now 



264 APPENDIX. 

preached for more tlian a year as supply, receiving 
a salary of six hundred and fifty dollars. Rev. Mr. 
Henry, and Rev. Mr. Bushnell, an excellent preacher, 
also acted as supply until the 28th of August, 1847 ; 
when the Rev. Joel H. Lindsley, D.D., was tendered 
a call to settle. The vote upon this question stood 
thirty-one yeas and two nays, with one blank. He 
is now (Jan. 1857), the pastor of the church, receiving 
seven hundred dollars salary, with a present an- 
nually of two hundred dollars, and the free use of 
the parsonage and its appurtenances. 

On the 7th of December, 1852, a committee was 
appointed to take into consideration the building of 
a new church. After various meetings, nothing was 
accomplished until finally, on the 11th of April, 
1856, it was decided by a vote of thirty-five to seven, 
to build a church of stone, according to a plan pre- 
sented by the committee. Its position to be a little 
northeast of the present site, but so near as to render 
the removal of the old church necessary. The 
building, in its wdiole length, including a lecture- 
room, to be one hundred and thirty-eight feet. Its 
extreme width, one hundred and ten feet. The tower 
upon the southeastern corner to be one hundred feet 
high, and the spire upon the opposite front corner, 
two hundred feet. 

The building was contracted for by Robert W. 
Mead, Esq., one of the largest subscribers, at the 
following estimate : 



APPENDIX. 265 

Mason work, including stone furnished, cut, and set, $10,000 
Cartage, breaking stone, and sand, . . 4,100 

Plastering, including lime, sand, and lath, . 1,000 

Brick, $400, Lime, $1,200 . . . 1,600 

Carpenter, including materials, iron work and cartage, 10,500 
Slating roof, .... 1,200 

Glazing, $600, painting, $500, . . . 1,100 

Spires, if of wood, including slating, . 1,600 

Digging, for masons, $100, iron work, $80, . 180 

Architect and contingencies, . . 1,220 



Total, . . $32,500 

The final vote in reference to entering into this 
contract was decided by twenty-eight yeas and six 
nays. About this time, Messrs. Mills IT. Husted, 
Wm. IT. Mead, Jacob D. L. M. Armour, Zaccheus 
Mead, and Augustus Mead, withdrew from the 
Society. 

The Society's officers for the year 1857 are — ■ 

Moderator — Lewis Howe, Esq., 

( Thomas A. Mead, 
Committee^ ■< Nehemiah Howe, 

[ Philander Button, 
a^r^— Robert W. Mead, 
Treasurer — Robert W. Mead, 
CoUeGtoT—J)2<x\\Q\ M. Mead, 
Fund Agent — Zenas Mead and Thomas A. Mead. 

The use of the pews for the year 1855 sold for the 
sum of one thousand and seventy-six dollars. For 
1856, nine hundred and seventy-four dollars. 



266 APPENDIX. 

We give here the epitaph of the Kev. Isaac 
Lewis, D.D., who was buried in his private bury- 
ing-groimd, a little north of the present residence 
his daughters. 

Rev. Isaac Lewis D.D. 
died 
August 27. 1840, 

in the 
95 year of his age 
He was born in Stratford and was educated at Yale 
College. Was the faithful Pastor of the Congregational 
Church in Wilton eighteen years, and of the Congregational 
Church in this place thirty-three years. 

In his social relations, he was kind and affectionate ; for 
piety and learning eminently distinguished. 

In the same grave-yard are the remains of Eev. 
Piatt Buffet, marked by the following : 

Rev. Piatt Buffet. 

Departed this life 

May 25th 1850 

in the 86th year of his age 

He was born on Huntington, Long Island 

1754 

Graduated at Yale College 

1791 

Studied Divinity with Rev. Dr. Edwards 

Was licensed to preach the Gospel by 

the New Haven Association. 

He \yas grdained and CQnsstituted pastor of 



APPENDIX. 



267 



the Congregational Church 

in Stanwich 

By the Consociation of Fairfield West 

on 25 may 1796. 

He died peaceful and happy in the 

full assurance of that faith in Christ 

which he preached to others for 

more than half a century. 

List of Ministers of the 2d Society, 

Began to Name. Left Preaching. Salary.* 

preach. 

1700. Joseph Morgan, . 1708.t £> 

1717. Eichard Sackett, . . 1T27. 

1728. Stei)lien Mnnson, . 1830. 

1733. Abraham Todd, . . 1773. 

1774. Jonathan Murdock, . 1783. £100 

1786. Isaac Lewis, D.D., . 1818. 100 

1818. Isaac Lewis, jun., . 1S27. $800 

1828. JVoah a Saxton, . . 1829. 600 

1830. Joel Mann, . . 1836. t^^O 

1837. Noah Coe, . . • 1845. 700 

1845. Frederick G. CUrh, . 1847. 650 

1847. Joel H. Lindsley, . . %'^^^ 

* The salaries as paid at the commencement of each minister's 
term of service. In many instances the sums were increased. 

\ Mr. Morgan, with others, preached from 1Y08 to 11 17 

occasionally. 

X Out of this salary Mr. Mann paid a four-per-cent. rent for the 
new parsonage. Mr. Coe and the succeeding ministers have not 
paid this or any other rent. 

§ Besides this amount, Dr. Lindsley receives the free rent of the 
parsonage, and an annual present of $200, The rent of the par- 
sonage is worth from two hundred and fifty to three hundred ana 
fifty dollars. 



268 APPENDIX. 

METHODIST EPISCOPAL SOCIETY OF HORSENECK. 

This Society was formed on the 14:th day of No- 
vember, A.D. 1843. The mutual agreement by which 
this association was formed, is recorded upon the 
records of the Society as follows : 

Whereas the members of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church resident in Horseneck, in the town of Greenwich, 
Fairfield Co., Conn., desire to make provision for the main- 
tenance of the public worship of God according to the 
usages and doctrines of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 
said Horseneck as may be considered necessary. 

Therefore we the undersigned for the accomplishment of 
the above named object do hereby by mutual agreement 
associate ourselves together as a religious society for the 
maintenance of the public worship of God according to the 
said usages and doctrines of the said Methodist Episcopal 
Church in said Horseneck, by the name and style of the 
Horseneck Methodist Episcopal Society ; by which name 
and style the said Society is to be called and known ; which 
said society we do hereby constitute to be subject to all the 
incidents and liabilities to which religious societies and con- 
gregations are by law subject and possess and enjoy all 
rights powers and privileges given by law to religious so- 
cieties and congregations. 

And we hereby declare this meeting at which the under- 
signed are present to be the first meeting of said Society 
the same being holden by us all tbis 14tli day of November, 
A. D. 1843 at the school house in said Horseneck. And 
we do hereby appoint John A. Merritt clerk of said Society 
to continue in ofiBce until another be chosen and sworn in 



APPENDIX. 269 

his room. And we also appoint Jonathan A. Close, Elisha 
Halsted, Gilbert Marshall, Solomon S. Gansey and Benja- 
min Peck jun. to be the committee of the said Society to 
order the affairs of said society according to law. 

And we do hereby fix on the school house ia Horseneck 
Society as the place of holding the meetings of said society 
until the society shall otherwise direct and we direct that 
the clerk of this society shall cause the articles of association 
to be recorded in the records of this Society. 

We also appoint Elisha Halsted Treasurer of this society. 
We also fix on the first Monday of November as the time 
when the annual meetings of this society shall be holden 
until the society shall otherwise direct. 

Witness our hands this 14th day of November A. D. 

1843. 

SOLOMON S. GANSEY, 

ELISHA HALSTED, 

JOHN A. MERRITT, 

GILBERT MARSHALL, 

JOHN M. WEED, 

JONATHAN A. CLOSE, 

BENJAMIN PECK, JUN. 

On the 14th of ISTovember, 1848, the following 
united with the Society. 

Gilbert Lent, 

Samuel Slagle, 

Samuel Minor, 

William Funston, 

Wm McF. Howard (withdrawn), 

John Marshall, 

William Barmore, 

Charles Gorse. 



270 APPENDIX. 

And on or soon after the 8th of December, 1851, 

Charles Owen, 
Drake Marshall, 
Richard Burns, 
David H. Smith, 
Samuel Hiker, 
Samuel Burns, 
Humphrey D. Mead, 
John Dayton. 

On the 22d of January; 1844, by unanimous con- 
sent it was voted to build a meeting-house. The 
dimensions were thirty feet by forty-five. The 
building committee then appointed were Elisha 
Halsted, Jonathan A Close, and Benjamin Peck, jr. 
This building was immediately commenced, and soon 
completed. 

The ministers of this Church have been in the 
following order — 

Rev. Rufus C. Putney, 
Benjamin Redford, 
Jacob C. Washburne, 
Charles Gorse, 
John A. Selleck, 
G. L. Fuller, 
P. L. Hoyt, 
George Dunbar, 
Senaca Howland, present minister. 

Christ's church. 
With respect to the early labors of Rev. Mr. 
Muirson of Rye Parish, assisted by Caleb Heath- 



APPENDIX. 271 

cote, in the early part of the eighteenth century, for 
the benefit of the Episcopalian faith in this town, 
the reader is referred to the body of this volume. 

Later in the same century, Kev. James Wetmore, 
also of Eye parish, preached once a month in 
Greenwich, as may be gathered from preceding 
pages. 

In 1747, Kev. Ebenezer Dibble, a graduate of 
New Haven, began his labors as a missionary for 
Greenwich and Stamford. 

In 1749, upon the petition of several people the 
town granted them liberty to build an Episcopal 
Church upon the brow of Putnam's Hill. It was 
accordingly built there, where are yet many grave- 
stones marking the site. 

Dr. Dibble preached here for a long time, al- 
though the author is not informed of the particular 
time at which he resigned the pastoral charge. He 
used frequently to preach at the house of Moses 
Heusted, on the site where William A. Husted, 
Esq., now resides, and that within the memory of 
persons now living. He is described as a venerable 
man, of dignified appearance, his long white locks 
flowing gracefully over his shoulders. 

Eev. Amzi Kogers, afterwards preached here, but 
when or for how long a time we are unable to 
ascertain. There appears to have been a period 
when there was but little permanent preaching. 

During the great September gale of 1821 (some 
say 1823), the church upon the brow of the hill, 



272 APPENDIX. 

which had been built in 1749, was blown down. 
The roof was blown off at one gale, and the build- 
ing completely demolished at the other. 

Chrisfs Church was raised July 4th, 1832. In 
November 1833, the Rev. Robert Davis was invited 
to take charge of the Parish. On May 4th, 1834, 
the Church was consecrated by the Right Rev. 
Thomas Church Brownell, D. D., LL.-D., Bishop of 
the Diocese. There were also present at the conse- 
cration, the Rev. Ambrose Todd, Rector of St. 
John's Church, Stamford, Rev. Jackson Kemper, 
D. D., Rector of St. Paul's Church, Norwalk, and 
the Rev. Robert Davis, the minister of the Parish. 
The Rev. Frederick Beasely, of Penn., was also 
present. 

Mr. Davies continued in charge of the Church 
until July, 1834, when he relinquished the cure. 
On the 9th of September following, the Rev. Joseph 
jH. Nichols, was unanimously invited to the pasto- 
ral charge of the church ; and having accepted of 
the call, he entered upon the duties of the cure on 
the 14th day of the same month. He resigned the 
pastoral charge in February A. D. 1839. 

On the 5th of April following, the Rev. Benja- 
min M. Yarrington, was called to the pastoral duties 
of the church. On the 15th of the same month he 
accepted the call, and entered upon the duties on 
the 2Tth of the same month. 

April 20th, 1840, being Easter Monday, after the 
usual election of church wardens and vestrymen. 



A1>PEND1X. 273 

the Rev. B. M. Yarrington was unanimously elected 
the Rector of Christ's Church by the members of 
his parish, and accordingly signified his acceptance. 

Emanuel Church at Glenville, was consecrated 
on the 22d of April, 1842, by Right Rev. Thomas 
Church Brownell, D. D., LL. D., Bishop of the 
Diocese. Present, Rev. Ambrose Todd, D. D., 
Rev. William C. Mead, D. D., Rev. John Purves, 
Rev. Mr. Howell, Rev. B. M. Yarrington. Also, of 
Diocese of New York, Rev. Thomas Coit, D. D., 
Rev. Mr. Harris and Rev. Mr. Partridge. 

The church erected in 1832, was torn down in 
1856, and a beautiful stone edifice was erected. 
During the year 1856, the services were held at the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. The following is a 
correct account of the consecration of the new edi- 
fice taken mostly from the Churchman, a Kew York 
paper : — 

" This church was consecrated on "Wednesday the 
14th of January A. D. 1857. There were of the 
clergy, besides the Right Rev. the Assistant Bishop 
of the Diocese, and the Rev. B. M. Yarrington (the 
Rector), the Rev. Drs. Mead, Todd, and Harris (of 
ISTew York), and Rev. Messrs. Carter, Lefiingwell, 
Potter, Purdy, Purves, Robertson, Short, Stimson, 
Williams (of Ridgefield), Williams (of New Canaan), 
Yermilye ; and from the Diocese of N. York, Messrs. 
Bull, Partridge, Rumney, Peck, and Weaver. The 
day being extremely fine, and the sleighing good, 
large numbers of the inhabitants of the vicinity, to- 
gether with many from the neighboring cities and vil- 



274 APPENDIX. 

lages, were also present on the occasion ; and the 
church, which is capable of seating nearly six hundred 
adults, was densely crowded, so much that the nave, 
aisles, and every other portion of the building where 
standing room could be obtained, were quite filled. 
The Request to Consecrate was read by the Rector, 
and the Sentence of Consecration by Dr. Todd. 
Morning prayer was commenced by Rev. Mr. Bull, 
Rev. Mr. Weaver reading the First Lesson, Rev. 
Mr. Purdy the Second Lesson, Rev. Mr. Purves the 
Creed, Prayers, and Litany, Rev. Mr. Yermilye the 
Epistles, and the Rev. Mr. Stimson the Gospel. 
The music was very good, and iu the choir were 
Mrs. Bostwick, of Calvary Church, New York, 
Miss Juliet Davis, formerly of the same church, but 
now a member of Rev. Mr. Yarrington's congrega- 
tion, and Rev. Mr. Riggs of New York. The sermon 
was preached by the Bishop, from the following 
text ; ' The true worshijpers shall icorship the 
Father in spirit and in truths — John, iv. 23. 

" The Offertory was then proceeded with, the sen- 
tences being read by the Rector. The offerings 
amounted to one hundred dollars, which will be 
applied to the liquidation of a remaining debt on 
the church of about one hundred dollars. The 
Prayer of the Whole State of Christ's Church 
Militant was said by Dr. Mead. The Communion 
Service was performed by the Bishop, who was as- 
sisted in administering the Holy Sacrament to the 
clergy by Dr. Mead; and the Rector, Dr. Mead, 
Rev. Mr. Stimson, and Rev. Mr. Yermilye, ad- 



APPENDIX. 275 

minstered to the laity. After which the Benedic- 
tion was pronounced by the Bishop. 

'' We understand that theKev. Mr. Yarrington has 
been rector of this parish for the last seventeen 
years. When he entered upon the charge, he had 
but one male, and some twenty female communi- 
cants. He has now, of both sexes, about one hun- 
dred communicants. And his congregation, though 
small is full of vigor, as is shown by the fine church 
they have erected, the whole expense of which, in- 
cluding -furniture, has been about $15,500. The 
free-seat system, we learn, will not be fully carried 
out in this church ; but free seats will be reserved for 
strangers and for the poor. The style of the edi- 
fice is middle pointed. The material employed in 
the construction of the main walls is rubble-stone 
from quarries in the vicinity; the quoins, the window- 
jams, the doorways, the dressings, &c., being of 
Caen stone. The whole length of the building in- 
cluding: chancel, is about one hundred and seven 
feet ; and the width, including tower and butresses 
about sixty feet ; and consists of chancel, nave, 
north and south aisles, having a west porch, a tower 
on the north side at the west end. There is a small 
gallery at the west end, intended only for the organ 
and choir. The tower and sacristy occupy positions 
diff'erent from those in most churches, in order that 
the main entrance shall face the street. The chancel 
is some seventeen by nineteen feet, and the tower 
is sixteen feet square. The hight of the tower and 
spire is about one hundred and seven feet. The 



276 APPENDIX. 

church is capable of seating -Q-ve hundred and fifty 
adults. The roof is open, of good pitch, and is 
covered' with slate. In it are dormer-windows, 
giving it the effect exteriorly of a clerestory. The 
internal frame-work of roof, nave, arches, pillars, 
&c., is of pine ; and the panels of the ceiling are 
plastered. The seats are without doors, and as well 
as the furniture are of chestnut. The altar is of good 
size, and has a handsomely carved panel in front. 
The pulpit is on the north side against the chancel 
arch, and the reading-desk occupies the same posi- 
tion on the south side. The font stands in front of 
the chancel. It is of small size, constructed of mar- 
ble, and was used in the old church. The chancel- 
window is large, and of geometrical tracery. It 
contains in its four departments, effigies of the four 
Evangelists with their symbols in very rich glass ; 
and it also has appropriate symbols in the head of 
each light. At the west end of the church is a 
magnificent window. The side lights of the nave, 
are in couplets with ornamental glass in their heads. 
This is thought by many to be the finest country 
church in the State. Mr. Frank Wills is the arch- 
itect, Mr. Doremus furnished the glass, and Nicholls 
& Washburne were the builders." 

Table of Ministers. 

Ebenezer Dibble, began to preach . . 1747. 

Amzi Rogers, " " . 

Robert Davies, " " . . 1833. 

Joseph H. Nicholls, " " . . 1834. 

Benj.M.Yarrington," " . . 1839. 



APPENDIX. 277 



GENEALOGY OF THE MEAD FAMILY, 



BY 



D. M. MEAD. 



John Mead was one of two brothers, who emi- 
grated from England about the year 16-12. The 
family was then an ancient and honorable one, 
though it is not within the author's means to trace 
their genealogy previous to their emigration to this 
country. One of their ancestors had been the 
friend and the physician of the talented though 
not very amiable Queen Elizabeth. One of two 
brothers emigrated to Yirginia, where the family 
still exists. The other, John Mead, with his two 
sons came to I^ew England about the year 1612. 
The name is spelled Meade as well as Mead. Many 
claim that they emigrated from Greenwich, Kent 
Co., England ; but we have not fallen in with any 
direct proof of the fact, and this town was known 
by its present name long before the settlement of 
the Mead family. John Mead and his two sons, 
John and Joseph, having tarried awhile in Massa- 
chusetts, first settled at Hempstead, Long Island, 
where they remained until October, 1660, when the 
two sons came to Greenwich and bought land of 
Eichard Crab and others, which was deeded to John 
13 



278 APPENDIX. 

Mead, he being the elder. Either John, the father, 
never came to Greenwich, or if so, he took no active 
part in life, now having become quite an old man. 
His son Joseph left no children in this town. He 
may have died joung, or left no issue, or may have 
emigrated to a different part of the country. 

John Mead the second, died 1696, married Miss 
Potter, of Stamford, and left, as appears by his will 
given on the preceding pages of this volume, eight 
sons, and tradition says three daughters, viz., John, 
Joseph, Jonathan, Ebenezer, Nathaniel, David, 
Samuel, Abigail, Marj^, and Susan or Susannah. 

Jolin^ the first son of second John, died in 1691, 
while in the oflSce of Constable of the town. Mar- 
ried Ruth Hardey^ and left John, Nathan, Jonathan, 
and Elizabeth. (We regret our utter inability to 
trace this branch of the family farther.) 

Jonathan J the third son of second John, had a son 
Elnathan, who had Elnathan, Eunice, — married Jo- 
seph Close, — and Deborah. Second Elnathan left, I. 
Elnathan, who had Elnathan and Sarah. .This last 
Elnathan had 1. Hibbard, 2. Solomon, the father of 
William, Seth, Sarah, Tyler, Charles, Thomas, and 
Solomon. 3. Tyler, the father of Marj, Hetty, Abel, 
and Floy. 4. Sarah. II. Henry, married Elizabeth 
Denton, and left Charlotte, Henry, Artimas, By- 
theny, Priscilla, Lavinia, and Martha. III. Abra- 
ham, married Ruth Lyon and left 1. Abram, 2. 
Esbon, 3. Jotham, 4. Enos, 5. Daniel, 6, Lemuel, T. 
Isaac, who married Polly Mead, who left Darius 



APPENDIX. 279 

(married Emily Goodrich and left Samuel G. and 
four others), Julia Ann, and Lucinda (married Ben- 
jamin Reynolds). 8. Job, who married Elsie Mead, 
and left Zaccheus (who married Laura Mead and 
has Hannah), Abraham (married Miss Selleck and 
has some children), Amanda, Emmeline, Eliza 
(married Isaac Lyon). 9. Zebulon, married Miss 

Marshal and left (married Isaac Mosher), and 

(married Isaac Babbitt), and Eliza. 10. 

Manoah, married Electa Mead, and leaves Mary, 
and Ophelia (married Livingston). 11. Eunice, 
married first, Solomon Mead, second, Beojamin 
Weed of N^ortli Stamford. 12. Ruth, married Major 
Brown. lY. Stephen, who had 1. Stephen, who had 
Jane (married Mr. Gulliver), and Betsey (married 
Mr. Glover). 2. Israel, who has James (married 
Miss S. Lester, and has Emmeline, James, Marilda, 
and Daniel), Alexander (married Harriet Lester, 
and has Elias, Gordon, Sidney, Angeline, Marj, and 
Nancy), Alfred (married Marilda Ferris, and has 
Orlando and Anne), Mary (married Daniel Lester), 
Israel (married Susan Mead, and has Mju:y, Albert, 
Cordelia, Lucian, John A., and Mary L)., Lemuel, 
(married Hurlbut, and has Henry, Mary, and Ste- 
phen), Stephen (married Tibitha Mead, and has 
Asaph E.) and Hiram, who has two children. 3. Ed- 
ward, who has Edward, Betsey (married Lord), Lu- 
cinda, and Esther. 4. James, who had Mary (married 
"William Lawrence), and John Wolcott (married 
Lucinda Wood and has William, Benjamin, Albert, 
Mary Jane, and Betsey Ann). 5. Amos, had Harvey, 



280 APPENDIX. 

Gilbert, Albert, Amy, and Sarah. 6. Matthias, 
married Miss Lyon, and left William, Amy, Mark, 
Luther, Alfred, Orrin, Eunice (married Green), and 
Fanny. 7. Albert, had Hannah, Mary, Malcom, 
Edmund, Sarah, Albert W., Olive, Hannah, Abram, 
and Nancy. 8. Eunice, married Orra Piatt. 9. Wil- 
liam, married Hannah Barmore, and has Susan 
(married Israel Mead, and has Ann and others), 
Ann (married Abraham H. Close), Mary (married 
Horace Mead, and has William H., Silas, and Ann 
Augusta), William Albert (married Ann Barmore, 
and has Emma, William, Mary, Adalaide, Joseph- 
ine, and infant). Elizabeth (married Green), Henry, 
Benjamin, Lucian, Hannah (married Brush Knapp), 
Emil3^, John Randolph, Caroline (married Elbert 
White, of Stamford), and Sarah. 10. Mary, mar- 
ried Job Brown, of Stamford, 

Ehe7ieze}\ foicrth 5(9^i of second John, was born in 
1663, and married Sarah Knapp, of Stamford, and 
left Ebenezer, Caleb, Sarah, married Jonathan 
Hobby, Hannah, married John Hobby, Jabez, 
David, Abigail, married Isaac Holmes, Susannah, 
married Moses Husted, Jemima, married Moses 
Knapp. 

The second Ebenezer was born October 25th, 
1692, and died May 3d, 1775. He married Hannah, 
of Rye, N. Y., on the 12th of December, 1717. His 
children were — 

Ebenezer, born October 8th, 1718, died Feb. 25th, 
1758 ; married Mary Mead, and left I, Ebenezer, 
married Nancy Mead, and left 1. Nancy. 2. Han- 



APPENDIX. 281 

nah. 3. Marilda, married T. Boughton. 4. Ebe- 
nezer married first, Zetta Mead, and second, 
Elizabeth Holmes, and had bv his first marriage, 
Rev. Ebenezer (by his first wife, Maria Lester, he 
had William, died young ; Ebenezer, married in 
Pennsylvania, calling his oldest son lEbenezer ; and 
Maria; — by his second wife, Mary A. Lyman, one 
son, Theodore), Hannah (married Selah Mead), 
Almira (married Rev. Mr. Piatt), Emmeline (mar- 
ried Catrn) ; by second marriage, Mary E., Enoch 
(married in Vermont, and has James R., and Mary 
E., with others), Zetta (married Rev. Mr. Day), 
Nancy died young, Lydia A. died young-, and 
Theodore H. Mead (married Miss Mead, of Nor- 
walk). 5. Hannah, married Timothy Walker. 6. 
Jabez, married Laura Davis, and left Col. Jabez, 
(married Miss Mary J. Hobby, and left Lncina Ja- 
nette (married Mr. Reynolds, Harriet R., Herman 
H., Arthur D., and Edward E). ; Amy, and Martha 
(married Silas Husted). 7. Amy, married Epenetus 
Lockwood. II. Hannah, married Elkanah Mead, 
and left Hannah, Sarah, and Amos. III. Enoch, 
died Sept. 18th, 1807, aged 52, married Jemima 
Mead, who died April 4th, 1837, aged 82. Their 
children were, 1. Solomon, married Miss Gilbert, 
and left Mary, Enoch, Gilbert, Laura, and Thurza. 
2. Alfred, married Mary Brundage. 3. Thurza, 
married Joseph Brundage. 4. Laura, married Joel 
Todd. 5. Henry, died aged 11. 6. Rufus. T. 
Nancy. 8. Sarah, who died May 19th, 1784. 



282 APPENDIX. 

Silas^ second son of second Ehenezer^ was born May 
22cl, 1Y20, died 1817, married Mary Mead, who was 
born 1724, and died 1787. Their children were, I. 
Silas, born 1748, and died 1813, married Sarah 
Mead, and left 1. Sarah, 2. Francis, and 3. Silas 
Harvey, who married Harriet Mead, and left Sarah 
M. (married Selah Savage), and Silas D. (married 
Emily L. Close, and has Myrtilla M., and others). 
II. Abner, born 1750, died 1810, without issue. III. 
Aaron, married Sarah Mead, daughter of Eliphalet 
Mead, and left 1. Aaron, of Cross river, married 
Miss Finch. 2. Allen, of Greenburg, married 
Mabel Todd. 3. Amos, of Cross river. 4. Anna, 
married Isaac Seely. 5. Lucinda, married Joseph 
Banks. 6. Sarah, married Mr. Hoyt. 7. Mary, 
married Harvey Keeler. IV. Mary. Y. Mary. 
YI. Calvin, married Deborah Mead, daughter of 
Jehiel Mead, and had, 1. Leander, of Quaker 
Ridge, married Anna Mead. 2. Luther, of Ohio, 
married Alice Mead, and had William Martin, 
Thomas L., Joseph, Thurza and Anna, with others. 
3. Thurza, married Mr. Palmer. 4. Myrtilla. 5. 
Lisetta, married Obadiah Peck. 6. Marcus, married 
Harriet Sturges, and has William E., Elizabeth S., 
and Alice. 7. Rufus, married Anna Waterbury, 
and has Lucinda, Harriet, Stephen, Catherine, 
Sarah. 8. Mary Jane. 9. Heman, married Mar- 
garet West, and has Marcus W. 10. Lucinda. 

Hev. Abraha7n^ third son of second Ehenezer^ was 
born June 15th, 1721, and died on Long Island, 
aged 22. 



APPENDIX. 



283 



Jonas, the fourth son of second Ehenezer, born 
1723, died 1783, married j^rs?^, Sarah Ferris, second, 
Sarah Howe, and left 1. Solomon. IL Edmund, 
who left 1. Solomon. 2. Maria. 3. Benjamin, 
married Elizabeth Holmes, and left Edmund, Abi- 
gail, and others. 4. Obadiab, who married Alia 
Mead, and left Benjamin and others. 5. Polly, 
married Judge Keed of Bedford. 6. Sarah, married 
Benjamin Mead. 7. Ralph, married Sarah Holmes. 
8. States, married Lydia Mead first, and second, 
widow Hannah Glass, HI. Noah, married Eliza- 
beth Peck, and having no children, adopted Charles, 
the son of Deacon Jonas Mead. lY. Rev. Mark, 
married Hannah Mead, and had 1. Jonas, who 
married Abigail, daughter of Zen as Mead, and had 
Isaac L. (married Esther A., daughter of Daniel S. 
Mead), Emmeline, and Lucretia. 2. Dr. Sylvester 
Mead, of Wilton. Y. Deacon Jonas Mead, married 
Hannah Mead, and has 1. Charles, married Rachel 
E. Sackett, and has Sarah A., Whitman S., Mary 
E., Charles, and others. 2. Hannah, married Ben- 
jamin Mead, of Rye. 3. Mark, mamed Deborah 
Howe, daughter of Jonas Howe." 4. Milo. 5. 
Sarah. 6. Sarah. 

Bev. Solomon Mead, fifth son of second Ehenezer, 
removed to South Salem, N. Y., from Greenwich, 
first pastor of the Presbyterian Church in that 
place, was born 1725, and died 1812, married first, 
Hannah Strong, and second, Hannah Clark, and left 
I. Andrew, who married Miss Barton, and had 



284 APPENDIX. 

Thomas, BenjamiD, Alice, Lucy, Hannah, and 
Maria. II. Theodosia married Mr. Smith. III. 
Clark, of Lewisborough, married Miss Gilbert, and 
left Merlin, Kichard, Rufus, Soj)hia, Laura, Rhoda, 
and Linus. TV. Martin, of Lewisborough. 

Deliverance, the sixth son of second Ehenezer, was 
born May 4th, 1728, and died May 3d, 1785, mar- 
ried Abigail Howe, and had I. Elisabeth born 1760, 
and died 1823, married Job. Lyon, 11. Sarah born 
1761, died 1812, married Silas Mead. IIL Rachel, 
born 1763, died 1831, married Whitman Mead. 
lY. Hannah born 1765, married Joshua Mead, and 
left Solomon, who married Miss Mary E. Dajton, 
and has a daughter born Feb. 14th, 1857. Y. Jabez 
died young, YL Robert born 1768, died 1836, 
married Prudence Mead, and left an only son Ed- 
ward, who was born in 1809, and married Susan A. 
E. Merritt, daughter of Capt. Daniel Merritt, she 
being born in 1814, and left 1. Daniel M., born 
June 2d, 1834, married Louisa S., daughter of 
Thomas A. Mead, born June 29th, 1834. They 
were married June 16th, 1856. 2. Mary A., born 
July 22d, 1836, married John G. Clark of Bedford, 
on the 17th of December, 1856. 3. Sarah E. 4. 
Amelia. 5. Susan C. 6. Catharine M. 7.' Robert. 
8. Edward W., and 9. Augustus. YII. Huldah, 
born Feb. 26th, 1773, still living, married Zophar 
Mead. YIII. Ephraim, born in 1775, married Zuba 
Mead, and left, 1. Mary, married Willis J. Merritt, 
of Norwalk. 2. Huldah, married Daniel S. Mead. 



APPENDIX. 285 

3. Thurza died young. 4. Alithea died young. 
6. Jane, married Elkanali Mead. 6. Isaac H., mar- 
ried Mary E., daughter of Zophar Mead of New 
York, and has Ephraim. 7. Elisabeth L. 8. 
Ophelia died young. 9. Mithea. IX. Jabez Mead, 
born 1777, died 1839, married Sarah Knapp, and 
left, 1. Julia B. 2. Mary E., married Ralph Sackett. 
3. William K., married Miss Sackett, and has several 
children. X. Zenas Mead, born 1779, married 
Mary Lashlers, and has 1. Abigail, married Jonas 
Mead. 2. Lucretia died youug. 3. Deborah died 
young. 4. Henry. 5. Julia, married Isaac Peck. 
6. Eliza, married Lock wood P. Clark. 7. Lynian, 
married Miss Sarah Acker, and has two children. 
XI. Mary, who was next older than Robert, died 
young. 

Di\ Ariios^ the seventh son of second Ehenezer^ 
married Miss Ruth Bush. Their children were. I. 
Richard, married, first, Sarah Mead ; second, Rachel 
Mead, who left, 1. Thomas A., who married Hannah 
Seaman, of New York, and has Louisa S. (married 
Daniel M. Mead), Thomas R., Seaman, Abigail R., 
Elisabeth H., Adelia, Zophar, and Lucinda P. 2. 
R. Elisabeth, married George Webb. 3. Sarah A., 
married Joseph Brush of Coscob. By his first wife 
Richard had Sophia, married Mr. Demill. IL 
Thomas, who died at the commencement of the 
Revolutionary War. 

Ed'inund^ the eighth son of second Ehene2ei\ was 
born 1732, sailed fur the West Indies, October 25th, 
1755, and was never afterwards heard from, 



286 APPENDIX. 

Hannah^ the first daughter of second Ehenezer 
was born 1735, and died June 25th, 1757, aged 22 
years. 

Jccbez^ the ninth S07i of second Ebeneser was born 
ill 1737, March 3d, and died September 14tli, 1766. 

Jared^ the tenth son of second Ehenezer was born 
December 15th, 1738, married Lydia Smith, and 
left, I. Zetta, married Ehenezer Mead. II. Daniel 
S., married Rachel Mead, and left, 1. Daniel S., who 
married Hnldah, daughter of Ephraim Mead, and 
left Esther A. (married Isaac L. Mead), Ophelia, 
Daniel S., Oliver, Abram, ELuldah, and otliers. 2. 
Jerad, married Miss Watson from Maine, and left 
several children. His sloop was run into by a 
steamboat, opposite Butter Hill on the Hudson, and 
he with all his crew were drowned. 3. Zetta. 4. 
L. Delia. 5. Elisabeth, married, first, Mr. Odle, 
second, David B. Mead. -1. Adeline died young. 
5. Edwin, married Miss Reynolds, of Bedford. 6. 
Silas M., who married Miss Elathea Reynolds, of 
North Street, and has some children. III. Lydia, 
married Mr. Lockwood. lY. Alma. Y. Hannah, 
married Deac. Jonas Mead. YL Jerad, married 
Anna Armstrong, and leaves Ammi A. YII. Alvan, 
married Eliza Peck, and has Ralph P., of California, 
who married a lady there. Warren B. do. do. 
Cornelia G., who married Mr. White, of California. 
Melancthon AV., and Elam C. 

Abraham^ eleventh son of second Ehenezer^ born 
December 11th, 1742, died in 1827 or 8, married 
Keziah Howe, and left, I. Deborah. II. Zophor, 



APPENDIX. 



287 



married Huldah Mead, and left 1. Abram. 2. 
Amelia, married Isaac Lyou. 3. Louisa, married 
Mr. Stafford. 4. Oliver. 5. Esther. 6. Sarah. 
7. Mary E. III. Isaac, married Clarinda Mead, 
and left Augustus, who married Sarah Husted. lY. 
Oliver, and several other children of Abraham 
Mead, who died young. 

A large mimber of the family trace back their 
origin to Mr. Titus Mead, though it is not exactly 
determined who his father was ; he was a nephew 
to the second Ebenezer. His children were— I. 
Andrew, who married Amy Hobby, and had Lucy 
M., who married Titus Mead, grandson of 1st Titus. 
IL Titus married Eimice Hobby, and had— 1. Delia, 
married Obadiah Mead. 2. Hobby, married Miss 
Wood. 3. Sophia, married Philander Mead, and 
has Philander, Sophia (married Hobby), Charlotte, 
Edward, Nelson. 4. Ann. 5. Shadrach, married 
Miss Waite, and has Ann Maria, Cordelia, Titus, 
Swain, Waite, and Lyden. C.Sarah. 7. Andrew, 
married Miss Waite, and has— Mary, James, Joseph, 
Julia and Philander. 8. Fanny, married Mr. Green. 
9. Martin, married Miss Waite. 10. Titus, married 
Lucy M. Mead. 11. Eliza, married Mr. Peck. 12. 
Charlotte, married Mr. Seaman. 13. Eunice, mar- 
ried Mr. Young. III. Jabez, married Elizabeth 
Hobby, and has— Augustus married Miss Mead, 
Bethia married Higley, Hiram married , Har- 
riet married Lake, Annice married Lake,^ Nancy 
married Legget, Anna married , Edwin mar- 



288 APPENDIX. 

ried Miss Chandler. IV. Shadrach, married Miss 
Hobby. Y. Hardy, married Kacbel Brown, and 
liad — Alice, Eliza, William, Eacbel, Sarah, Andrew, 
and Amy. YI. Ira, married ISTancy Marshall. YII. 
Kachel, married Eeiiben Green. YIII. Sarah, mar- 
ried Jasper Me'ad. 

Caleb Mead was the second son of the First 
Ehenezer. He left — I. Elkanah, married Hannah 
Mead, and left — 1. Hannah, married D. Husted. 
2. Sarah, married Benjamin Smith. 3. Amos, who 
married ^/'.s^ Alice Belcher, and seGond^2ccj Purdy, 
and left Edgar died young ; Elkanah (married Jane, 
daughter of Ephraim Mead, and has Catharine L., 
and others), Stephen Waring (married Miss Mackay, 
and lelt one child), Catharine (married Wm. L. 
Lyon), Sarah (married Amos M. Brush), Evelina 
married (Stephen Howe, of Bedford), Mary P. (mar- 
ried John G. Clark, of Bedford). II. Jonah, mar- 
ried ^r^^ Mary Mead, second Kachel Husted, and 
third Hannali Mead. By Ms first wife^ he had, 1. 
Rachel, married Daniel Close. 2. Lot. 3. Drake, 
died young. 4. Mary, married Andrew Hubbard. 
By his second wife^ Electa married Manoah Mead, 
and Zuba married Ephraim Mead. By his last 
wife^ 1. Drake, married Miss Knapp, and has 
Cornelius, and William J. (married Miss Kate 
Carroll). 2. Hannah. III. Abel, who had Zadok, 
Benjamin, Phebe, Lucy, and Fanny. lY. Jemima. 
Y. Deborah, married Jehiel Mead, and had, 1, 
Deborah, 2. Jehiel, who left Lewis, Henry, Wil- 



APPENDIX. 289 

liam, Mary, Mary Ann, and Handford. VI. 
Stephen. YII. Zadok. YIII. Eebecca. IX. Han- 
nah. X. Mary, married Jabez Peck. XL Ca- 
leb, married Miss Hobby, and had Eachel, A.my, 
Huldah, Hannah, Elizabeth, Caleb (who had Har- 
vey), Fanny married Selleck, Hanford, Charlotte 
married Selleck, Mills H., Samuel, and Joseph. 

Benjamin^ fifth son of second John^ left a son 
Benjamin, who had, I. Benjamin, whose children 
were, 1. Mary. 2. Anna, married first David 
Mead, second James Baily. 3. Theodosia, married 
Edmund Mead. 4. Obadiah, killed during the 
Revolutionary War, said to have been engaged to 
be married to Charity Mead. 5. Phebe, married 
Jehiel Mead. II. Thaddeus, who left, 1. Edward 
Mead, of Somers, married a Miss Finch, and left 
Squire Mead, John, Elizabeth (married Henry 
Lane), Anna, (married James Banks), Clarissa (mar- 
ried Mead Sutherland), 'Sarah (married David Hor- 
ton), and Hannah. 2. Ebenezer, married Abigail 
Chapman, and had Harvey (married Amy Brown), 
Whitman, Solomon (married Nancy Ferris), and 
Edward. 3. Amaziah, married Miss Jessup, and 
has William and others. 4. Benjamin, left Solo- 
mon. 5. Sarah, married Stephen Sutherland. 6. 
Mary, married Noah Lyon. 7. Martha, married 
Andrew Quick. 8. Tamar, married Benjamin Jes- 
sup. III. Sylvanus, w4io had, 1. Whitman, mar- 
ried Rachel Mead, and left Mary (married John 
Sackett), Zophar (married Miss Martha Seaman, 
and left Araminta, Mary Elizabeth married Isaac 



290 APPENDIX. 

H. Mead, and Sarah A), Whitman (married Grace 
Cornell, and left Grace married Cornelius Minor, 
and Henrietta, who died young). 2. Piatt, who mar- 
ried Deborah Peck, and had Sackett, Sylvanus, Sarah 
(married John Robbins), Hannah (married Daniel 
Peck), Gideon, Nathan, and Harriet (married Brad- 
ley Redfield). 3. Gideon, who married Mary Miller, 
and left Underhill, Mary, and Maria. 4. Asel, mar- 
ried Anne Mead, and had Martin (who had Alva, 
John, Amaziab, and Asel), Henry (who had Wil- 
liam H., and David), Levi (who has Joseph and' 
otliers), Mary (married Mr. Baily), and Hannah. 
lY. Gideon, left Gideon. V. Edward. YL Wil- 
liam, who had William, Abigail, and Anne. YH. 
Benjamin, left Margaret, married Hon. Nathan 
Bockwell, Elizabeth, married Brown, of Somers, 
Sarah, married Joshua Peck, Mar}^, married Sylva- 
nus Ferris, Pachel, married Caleb Lyon, jun. 
YHI. Sarah. IX. Elizabeth, married Theophilus 
Peck. X. Keziah, born February 1707, die^ in 
the latter part of 1808, married Isaac Howe.*^ XL 
Elipbalet, born 1708, died 1796, left, 1. Elipbalet, 

born 1738, died 1808, married Miss Anne , and 

left Anne, and Darius who married Hannah Peck, 
and left Anne (married Leander Mead), Alia (mar- 
ried Obadiah Mead), Huldah, Alva (married Jane 
Arundel, and had Samuel E., Hannah E., Samuel 
E., Leander, Hannah E., and Mary E), and Adelia. 
2. Jehiel, married Deborah Mead. 3. Jesse, mar- 
ried Pachel Knapp, and left Jesse (married Miss 



APPENDIX. 291 

Coinpton, and had William, Elizabeth, and George), 
Elizabeth (married Daniel Yan Yard), Kachel 
(married Eichard Dyckman), Rebecca, and Dimioiis 
(married Richard Loyd). 4. Abigail, born 1717, 
died 1796. 5. Libeiis, married //'5^, Hannah Ben- 
edict, and second^ Widow Pocock, and has, Eli, 
Martin, Jared, Hannah, Abby, Clarissa, Eliphalet, 
Sarah, and Sibah. 6. Eli, married Deborah Brush, 
and has Polly, Obadiah, Orson, Hannah, and Cyn- 
thia. 7. Sarah, married Aaron Mead. 8. Nancy, 
married Ebenezer Mead. 9. Rachel, married Ben- 
jamin Knapp. XII. Rachel, by second wife. XIII. 
Obadiah, had Phebe and Mary. XIY. Zebediah, 
left Henry, born 1751:, Hannah, born in 1755, 
Lydia, born in 1757, and Levi, born in 1761. XY. 
Nehemiah, left, 1. Lncy, married Isaac Howe. 2. 
Sarah, married Richard Mead. 3. Rachel, mar- 
ried Charles Weed. 4. Nehemiah, married Miss 
Richards, and left Samuel (who left a daughter, Eliza- 
beth Stillson), William H. (who married Abby Jane 
Mead), James, Sarah, Laura (who married Zaccheus 
Mead), and Caroline. 5. Clarinda, who married 
Isaac Mead, and left Augustus. 6. Bethiel, who 
married Stephen Davis. 

Nathaniel^ the sixth son of the John who hoiight 
land in Greenvnch^ had, I. Gen. John, who left 
John, the father of Seth, Walter, Hipsibeth mar- 
ried J. Simmons, and Alice married Peter Mead. 
II. Capt. Matthew, had, 1. Matthew, who left 
Mattheio^ Clemence (married Ralph Ritch), Hannah 



292 APPENDIX. 

(married H. Merritt), Justus (married Nancy Han- 
ford and has Joseph, Justus, Matthew, Andrew J., 
Eliphalet and three others), Mary^ Thomas^ Ainos^ 
William (married Ehza Lawrence, and has Jane 
Eliza, and others), and Hobby. 2. Justus had Susan 
(married Lewis Eldridge), Bush, Walter, James, 
Joseph (married Mary Taylor, and has Louisa, 
Joseph G., Mary D., James H., Samuel B., Ara- 
bella, and others), Rebecca (married Drake Mar- 
shall), Anne (married John Craft), and William, 
who died young. 3. Bush had Matthew (married 
Polly Ray, formerly Miss Marshall, and has two 
children), Eliza (married Harry Ferris), Susan 
(married John Matthews), Sophia A. (married 
Joseph E. Russel, Esq.), Bothena (married Capt. 
Caleb Holmes), William Henry (married Miss Per- 
melia Ray, and has John and George). IH. Na- 
thaniel, left, 1. Jaspar, the father of Bush. 2. Na- 
thaniel. 3. William, married and left John, Gilbert, 
Nathaniel., William, Charity, Hannah, and Mary. 
4. Charity. 5. Rachel. 6. Betsey, 7. Anna. Aa- 
thaniel^ the grandson of first Nathaniel, married 
Prudence Wood, of Long Island, and had, I. Epen- 
etus. 11. Nathaniel, who married Miss Bro^wn, and 
left Nehemiah, Nathaniel, William, Tyler, Epene- 
tus, Walter, Harvey, &c. HL Joshua, who mar- 
ried, 1st, , 2cl, Hannah Mead, and left, 1. 

Prudence, who married Robert Mead, and left Ed- 
ward. 2. Polly, married Isaac Mead, and left Rev. 
Darius (who married Miss Goodrich, and left 



APPENDIX. 293 

Samuel G., and others), and Lucinda (married Ben- 
jamin Reynolds, Esq.). 3. Jonathan, who moved 
with his children, Horace, Samuel B., Albert and 
others, to Hancock Co., Illinois. 4. Joshua, of 

Roundhill, who married Miss Mary , and 

left Selah, married Zetta Mead, Hannah^ Eacliel^ 
and Ehnira. 5. Darius, a physician living on the 
brink of Putnam's Hill, married Miss Lydia Bel- 
cher, and left, Robert W. (married Clarissa Shel- 
don), Zalmon (married Miss Scribner, and leaves 
Frederick B., Mary A., and one other), Frederick 
(married Miss Scribner, and has some children), 
Julia (married Philander Button, Esq.), and Henry 
W. 6. Rachel Mead, married Daniel S. Mead. 7. 
David, married Miss Chloe , and left, Leon- 
ard (married Miss Frances Studwell, and left two 
or three children), Theodore, Robert (married in 
Ohio), David W. (married in Ohio), Clarissa, and 
Rachel. lY. David, married Anna Mead. Y. 
Israel. YI. Halsey. YII. Jonathan, married 
Miss Lyon. YHI. Hannah, married Mr. Wheeler. 
IX. Dimny, married Thaddeus Husted. X. Theo- 
dosia, married Benjamin Close. XL Robert. XII. 
Daniel S. XIH. Isaac. 

We regret that in the haste with which this part 
of the family genealogy has been prepared, we 
have not time to correct and extend the number 
and names of the descendants of Joshua the third 
son of the third Nathaniel, and also of his brothers. 
Their descendants may, however, easily trace it for 



294 APPENDIX. 

themselves, as it is not a great length of time since 
the children of this Nathaniel were some of them 
alive. The author would recommend such branches 
of the family to write out distinctly their genea- 
logy upon the blank leaves hereinafter provided for 
the purpose. 

Samuel^ the seventh son of the John who hought 
land here, or second John^ left, I. Peter, who had, 
1. Peter, who had Mary, Peter, Deborah, Luckner, 
Anna and Sandford (who married Cynthia Hnsted, 
and has Alexander, Hannah, Maria, William H. 
H., and others). 2. Zaccheus had Msie (who mar- 
ried Job Mead, and had Zaccheus married Laura 
Mead, Amanda, Abraham married Miss Selleck, 
Emmeline, and Eliza married Isaac Lyon), Hannah 
married Rev. Mark Mead. II. Zaccheus. HI. Sam- 
uel, who left Charlotte, Henry, Artemas, Betheny, 
Priscilla, Lavinia, Martha. 

Arms. sa. a chev. between three pelicans, or. 
vulned. gu. 

The author, in collecting the above genealogy, 
has been especially assisted by a manuscript found 
in the possession of Titus Mead, Esq., and a collec- 
tion in the appendix of Bolton's History of "West- 
chester county, vol. ii. 



APPENDIX. 295 



GENEALOGY OF THE PECK FAMILY. 



BY 



DARIUS PECK, Esq., OF HUDSON, N. Y. 



WITH REMARKS BY THE AUTHOR. 



The great portion of the Peck family of this 
country are descended from William Peck, a 
merchant of England, who was born* about the 
year 1600, died October 4th, 1694. His second 
wife was named Sarah. He is said to have been 
one of the company of Eaton, Davenport, and 
others, who emigrating from London, England, or its 
vicinity, arrived at Boston on the 26th of July, 1637, 
and became the first settlers and planters at New 
Haven in the spring of 1638. He was chosen 
deacon of the church there in 1659, and was long 
known as Deacon William Peck of New Haven. 
His children were ; 

I. Kev. Jeremiah Peck, born in England in 1623. 
and died at Waterbury, June 7th, 1699. He mar- 
ried ^rs^ Johannah Kitchell at Guilford, November 
12th, 1656. He was a man of good education. 
Taught school at Guilford in 1656, and was teacher 
in the Grammar and Colony School at New Haven 



296 APPENDIX. 

during 1660 and 1661. Became a minister of the 
congregational order, and began to preach at Say- 
brook in the fall of 1661, and continued to preach 
there until 1665, when he removed to Guilford, and 
in 1666, or 166T removed to Newark, New Jersey, 
with many others, who were dissatisfied with the 
union of the colonies of New Haven and Connec- 
ticut; then being also a joint owner, and patentee 
with other associates, of a large tract of land at 
Elizabethtown, N. J. In 1672, he became one of 
the twenty-seven proprietors of common lands in 
Greenwich, Conn., which was confirmed to the pro- 
prietors by Gov. Treat in 1697. He continued to 
reside at Newark and Elizabethtown until 1678 ; 
when he received a call , to preach in Greenwich. 
Here he preached until dismissed for refusing to 
countenance the doctrine of half-way covenant, in 
1689. He then received a call to preach at Water- 
bury, where, as at Greenwich, he became their first 
settled pastor. His widow was living there in ITll. 
His children were, 1. Samuel, born at Guilford, 
Jan. 18th, 1659, died at Greenwich, April 28th, 
1696 ; married Ruth Ferris and left Samuel, Jere- 
miah, Joseph, David, Nathaniel, Eliphajet, Theo- 
philus, Peter, Richard, of whom an account is given 
below. 2. Ruth, born at New Haven, April 
3d, 1661, married Jonathan Atwater, of New 
Haven, on the 1st day of June, 1681. She 
had ten children, born between 1682 and 1698. 
3. Caleb, the father of a great part of the family 



APPENDIX. 297 

living in Greenwich, had Rev. Jeremiah's home 
lot and other rights in land here. 4. Anne, married 
Thomas Stanley, of Farmington, in 1690, where she 
afterwards resided. 5. Jeremiah, who was a farmer 
at Waterburj, where he married Rachel Richards, 
and died in 1752. He was there the constable for 
a series of years, and Deputy to the General Court, 
as well as Deacon of the ISTorthbury Church. He 
had one son, Jeremiah, beside nine daughters. 6. 
Joshua, who was also a farmer at Waterbury, and 
died unmarried on the 14:th of February, 1736. 

II. John, the second son of William Peck, mar- 
ried Mary Moss, of New Haven, on the 3d of No- 
vember, 1664. He first resided at New Haven, 
where four of liis children were born, until 1689, 
when he removed his family to Wallingford. 

III. Joseph, born at New Haven in 1641, after- 
wards settled in Lyme, Conn. 

lY. Elisabeth, born also at New Haven, married 
Samuel Andrews, and had a very numerous family. 

Samuel the son of the first Smnuel^ was born at 
Greenwich in 1688, where he died in middle life. He 
left three children, I. Samuel, who was born April, 
1720, at Greenwich, married Mary Ferris, and died 
Jan. 29th, 1793. Was known as Deacon Samuel 
Peck. 11. John, who married Sarah Adams, and 
died in 1771. His widow died in 1815, at the 
residence of her son Abijah, at Clifton Park, N. Y. 
The children of John were, 1. John, born Nov. 
12th, 1742, at Greenwich, married Sarah Northrop, 



298 APPENDIX. 

and removed liis family from Greenwich in 1772 to 
Nine-Partners, now Milan, Dutchess Co., New York. 
Afterwards, he removed from thence to Sherbourne, 
and soon after (in 1794) to Norwich, Chenango Co., 
where he died Sept. 19th, 1819. He had ten chil- 
dren, two of whom died in infancy, and the others 
had large families. The three oldest of these were 
born in Greenwich, and the others in Dutchess Co. 
He was a continental soldier in the Kevolutionary 
War. 2. Heth, born in Greenwich, married Kachel 
Eoselle, and was shot by a Tory in the Kevolution- 
ary War. 3. Nathan, born also in Greenwich, was 
drowned in Long Island Sound. 4. Abijah, born 
in Greenwich, April 3d, 1758, was a clergyman, 
married Mindwell Close, and died Nov. 12th, 1848, 
at Clifton Park, New York. He was in the army 
during several campaigns in the Revolutionary 
War. After the war, he resided at North Salem, 
Westchester county, until 1784, when he removed 
to Galaway, Saratoga county, and in 1794 removed 
to Clifton Park, in the same county, where he re- 
sided at his decease. He was ordained a minister 
in 1801, and left four sons and four daughters, all 
of whom married and had children. ^ 5. Sarah, 
born in Greenwich in 1750, married Wilson North- 
rop, and died at Clifton Park, Saratoga county, 
Feb. 28th, 1841. 6. Abigail, born in Greenwich, 
married Alexander Baird, and died in Plerkimer 
county, New York. 7. Ruth, born in Greenwich, 
married William Kinch, and died at Tinmansburgh, 



APPENDIX. 



299 



JST. T. 8. Elisabeth, born in Greenwich, married 
Joseph Young, and died at Otsego, N. Y. 

III. Rutli^ daughter of the second Samuel^ born 
in 1724, in Greenwich, married Nehemiah Haight, 
and died Sept. 3th, 1807. Her husband was the 
first Deacon of Stanwich Church. 

Jeremiah^ the second son of first Samuel^ was born 
in Greenwich, 1690. 

Joseph^ the third son of first Samuel^ was born 
in Greenwich, 1690. 

Damd^ the fourth son of first Samuel^ was born in 
Greenwich in 1694. 

Nathaniel^ the fifth son of first Samuel^ was born 
in Greenwich in 1697. Settled in Old Greenwich, 
though some say Flushing, L. I. 

Eliphalet^ the sixth sou of first Samuel^ was born 
in Greenwich in 1699. He settled and died in 
Greenwich. 

Theophilus, the seventh son of first Samicel^ was 
born in Greenwich in 1701. He lived in Green- 
wich. He early removed from Old Greenwich to 
Peckslancl, where he had twelve children, six sons 
and six daughters. The locality took its name from 
him. 

Peter ^ the eighth son of first Samuel^ was born and 
lived in Greenwich. His descendants mostly live 
at Glenn's Falls, New York. 

Richard^ the ninth son of first Sainnel^ was born 
in Greenwich, but his descendants live at Flush- 
ing, L. I. 



300 APPENDIX. 

From the above, the author presumes that every 
member of the family may trace their Genealogy 
with entire accuracy. Many facts relating to indi- 
viduals of this family, may be found upon the pre- 
ceding pages of this volume. 



BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE 



OF THE 



REVEREND JEREMIAH PECK, 



BY 



DARIUS PECK, ESQ., OF HUDSON", N. Y. 



Rev. Jeremiah Peck was born in London, En- 
gland, about the year 1623, and was the oldest son 
of William Peck, a merchant ; and in 1637, at the 
age of about fifteen years, emigrated to this country 
with his father, wbo was one of the first settlers of 
the Kew Haven colony in the spring of 1638, and 
for many years a deacon of the church at New 
Haven, Conn. He was a man of good education, 
acquired in part before he left England, and jDcr- 
fected in this country. His name is contained in a 
list of Connecticut ministers, in the Magnalia of Cot- 
ton Mather, and he is noticed in the Genealogical 
Register of Farmer; and both mention him as liav- 



APPENDIX. 301 

ing been a graduate of Harvard College ; but, though 
he may have been and probably was a student, he 
was not a graduate of that institution. Little is 
known of his early history until 1656, when he 
taught school in Guilford, Conn., where on the 12th 
of November of that year he married Joannah, a 
daughter of Robert Kitchell, one of the first princi- 
pal planters of that town. His oldest son, Samuel 
Peck, was born there, January 18, 1659. He con- 
tinued his school at Guilford until October, 1660, 
when, having been appointed the previous June of 
that year, he became the teacher of the Grammar 
school at New Haven. This was a colony school ; 
and in it were taught Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. 
Young men were fitted for college, and it was 
attended by young men from other colonies. 

He continued the teacher of this school until the 
fall of 1661 ; when, becoming a congregational 
minister, he commenced preaching occasionally to 
the people at Saybrook, Conn., whose minister, the 
Rev. James Fitch, had the previous year removed 
to Norwich, Conn. In the spring of 1662, he was 
settled at Saybrook. In 166i there was some dis- 
satisfaction with his ministry there ; and he gave 
them liberty to procure a successor, ofibring to yield 
his claim under their agreement of settlement, if the 
cause of religion could thereby be promoted. • His 
address on the subject to the inhabitants and plant- 
ers of Saybrook evinces a warm heart, a proper ap- 
preciation of the sacred duties of his profession, and 
14 



302 APPENDIX. 

a Christian resignation to the will of Providence 
and the desires of his people ; but it does not appear 
that there was then any action in the matter. He 
was the owner of considerable real estate at Say- 
brook, and seems to have had a partiality for that 
species of property. In the year 1664, he, with 
several others, principally from Long Island and 
Connecticut, purchased of the Indians a large tract 
of land in New Jersey, lying on the sound separat- 
ing that State from Staten Island, and between the 
Haritan and Passaic rivers. The purchase was 
confirmed to him and seventy-eight others by let- 
ters patent, dated October 28, 1664, from Ei chard 
Nichols, the first English colonial governor under 
the Duke of York. This tract embraces several 
towns in Essex and Middlesex counties, New Jer- 
sey ; and, the city of Elizabethtown being located 
upon it, was then and still is known as " Elizabeth- 
town" and " Elizabethtown Grant," and its purchasers 
and patentees as the " Elizabethtown Associates." 

He continued to discharge his official duties at 
Say brook until sometime in 1665, when he removed 
with his family to Guilford, being succeeded at 
Say brook early in 1666 by Kev. Thomas^ Bucking- 
ham. No reliable account is found of the time and 
place of his ordination. Trumbull and Farmer 
both state it to have taken place, August 26, 1669, 
at Waterbury, Connecticut ; but that town was not 
then settled, nor was he then a resident of Connec- 
ticut. He was probably ordained at Saybrook dur- 



APPENDIX. 303 

ing his ministry there ; of which, however, there is 
no direct evidence, but much incidental evidence of 
his having been ordained prior to his removal from 
Saybrook to Guilford, in 1665. 

By the union of church and state in the colonies, 
up to about this period, Congregationalism had be- 
come the established religion. All civil as well as 
ecclesiastical power was vested in the church ; and, 
especially in the New Haven colony, none could be 
freemen, hold office, or vote, but members of the 
church in full communion. The New Haven colony 
had been included in the charter granted to Con- 
necticut by Charles H. in 1662. By this charter 
the right of voting, holding office, and other civil 
immunities were not restricted to church members ; 
and many of the leading ministers and inhabitants 
of the New Haven colony were violently opposed 
to any union with Connecticut under the charter, 
believing that it would mar the purity and order of 
their churches, and have a bad influence on their 
civil government. After a powerful but unsuccess- 
ful resistance of about three years, the union of the 
two colonies was finally effected in 1665 ; but many 
were so irreconcilably hostile to the union that they 
resolved to emigrate from the colony. Among them 
was E-ev. Jeremiah Peck, who, with his father-in- 
law, Robert Kitchell, and others of Guilford, Bev. 
Abraham Pierson (afterwards minister at Green- 
wich, &c.), and most of his church and congrega- 
tion of Branford, and many other prominent indi- 



304: APPENDIX. 

viduals of Milford and ISTew Haven, in 1666 entered 
into a " Plantation Covenant " preparatory to a re- 
moval to N'ewark, N. J., providing " for the main- 
tenance of the purity of religion professed by the 
Congregational Churches," and also that their civil 
affairs should ^' be carried on according to God and 
godly government," and as they had heretofore 
been in the New Haven colony. Rev. Jeremiah 
Peck probably did this the more readily from his 
then owning lands at Elizabethtown, in the imme- 
diate neighborhood of the intended settlement. He 
removed to ISTewark, N. J., in the spring of 1666, 
and resided there and at Elizabethtown until 1678. 
No evidence is found of his having been a settled 
minister in New Jersey. In 1670 he was invited 
by the people of Woodb ridge, N. J., to become 
their pastor ; but he did not accept their call. 

Tlie first settlement of the town of Greenwich, 
Conn., was made in 1640, on lands purchased of the 
Indians lying east of the Myanos river, a navigable 
stream, running southerly through the center of the 
town into Long Island Sound, the Indians still re- 
taining the title to that part of the town lying west 
of the Myanos, and between it and the Byram. In 
1672 this tract w^as purchased of the Indians by 
twenty-seven proprietors, of whom was Rev. Jere- 
miah Peck, the title to which was confirmed to 
them by Governor Treat in 1697. At the time of 
this purchase he resided in New Jersey, and during 
the whole period of his residence there, serious con- 



APPENDIX. 



306 



flicts and violent civil commotions often occurred 
from the demand of quitrent from the associates in 
the Elizabethtown purchase, of whom he was one, 
in behalf of the proprietors, Lord Berkely and Sir 
George Cartaret, against which the associates set 
up their title derived from the Indians. In this dis- 
turbed state of affairs, in connection with his pur- 
chase at Greenwich in 1672, he had a sufficient mo- 
tive for a removal from Elizabethtown. His visits 
to Greenwich to look after his land there led to a 
call, in 1676, by the people of that town to settle 
with them in the ministry, which, however, was not 
accepted by him ; but in 1678 he had another call 
from them, which he accepted ; and removing late 
in the fall of that year from Elizabethtown to 
Greenwich, he became the first settled minister of 
that town. 

Previous to this time the town had only had oc- 
casional supplies. His pastorate there was a very 
useful one, continuing until 1689 ; but he did not 
escape the agitation and disturbance, then not un- 
common in other churches, occasioned by the intro- 
duction of what was called " Half-way Comnant^'^ 
allowing of the baptism of children of non-commu- 
nicants. Agreeing with the Rev. Mr. Davenport, 
President Chauncey, and many other leading minis- 
ters of that day, he was decidedly opposed to the 
decree of the synods of 1657 and 1662 to that 
effect. His refusal to conform to it was the cause 
of considerable dissatisfaction in the minds of a 



306 



APPENDIX. 



minority of his church and congregation, which (? ) 
induced him, in 1689, to accept the unanimous in- 
vitation of the residents of Waterburj, Conn., to 
settle with them in the ministry. He removed 
from Greenwich to Waterbury the same year, and 
became the settled minister of the church at Water- 
bury on its organization in 1691, and continued his 
official duties there until a short period before his 
death, which occurred June 7, 1699.* 

He appeared to have had considerable talents, 
energy, and enterprise, and though largely interested 
in lands in ]^ew Jersey and Connecticut, was a man 
of great usefulness, both as a teacher and clergy- 
man, in his day and generation. 

BRUJSTDIG FAMILY. 

The inhabitants of Greenwich bearing this name 
are descended from one John Brondish or Brondig^ 
who was one of the first proprietors of Manursing 
Island and Eye Neck, in 1662. His sons were 
John, Joseph, Daniel, and Joshua. 



BUSH FAMILY. 

Justus Bush in 1737 was one of the proprietors 
of Eye. His wife was named Anne. His sons 
were named Bernardus, Henry, and Abraham. 

* He came to Boston in the ship Hector, June 26, 1637. 



APPENDIX. 



307 



Though Henry's descendants, many of them, live in 
Greenwich, the author has been unable, in the haste 
with which this was collected, to fully trace them. 
Abraham married Kuth daughter of Gilbert Lyon, 
and had— 1. Abraham, who left William, of King 
street, the father of William S., Andrew L., Hobart, 
and Newberry. 2. Gilbert. 3. Anne, married Jon- 
athan Fisher. 4. Sarah, married Thomas Theall. 
5. Elizabeth, married Ezra Wetmore. 6. Kebecca, 
married Daniel Merritt. 

CLOSE FAMILY. 

This family are quite numerous at the present 
day. They were settled (Bolton's Hist. Westches- 
ter Co., vol. ii.) formerly at Langsley, near Mac- 
clesfield, England, A. D. 1486. The word Cloughes, 
now contracted into Clowes and Close, is an old 
Saxon word, and signifies a cliff or cleft in a valley 
between high hills. Thomas Close removed to 
Greenwich in or about 1661. He had four sons, 
Thomas, Joseph, Benjamin, and John. 

From the second of these, viz., Josejplu the family 
at ISTorth Salem claim their descent. He was born 
in 1674, removed to North Salem in 1749 and 
died in 1786. Before he removed from' Green- 
wich, he lived near the present residence of Jona- 
than A. Close. He married Kebecca Tompkins, 
who died in 1761. Their children were— 1 . J oseph, 
2. Elizabeth, 3. Solomon, 4. Sarah, 6. Kachel, 6. 
Thomas, 7. Benjamin, and 8.Eebecca. 

Solomon, the second son of this Joseph, was born 



^^^ APPENDIX. 



June 23d, 1706, and died 1788, aged 82. He mar- 
ried Deborah Brush and had ten children, viz. : I. 
Solomon, of ISTorth Salem, who left— 1. Mrs. Pad'- 
dock, 2. Phebe, married Epenetus Wallace, a phy- 
sician of mnh Salem. II. mthaniel, of Korth 
Salem, born 1732, and died in 1773 and left— 
1. mthaniel. 2. Jesse. 3. Isaac. 4. Deborah, 
who married Thomas Chapman. 5. Kachel 6 
Sarah. 7. Matilda. III. Deborah. lY. Hannah.* 
y. Key. John Close, of Korth Salem, a graduate 
of Princeton, and born in 1737, and died in 
1813. He was preaching at l^ew Windsor in 
1T92. He married a Miss Weeks, from Long 
Island, and left two daughters, who live at Water- 
ford, JNTew York, where their father died. YI. Sa- 
rah. YII Jesse, who died at Half Moon Point, on 
the 29th of June, 1758, aged 17, while in the 
mihtary service of the colony. YIII. Rev. Da- 
vid Close, a Presbyterian minister of Pate ',on, 
N. J. He suffered much in the Ee volution ary war! 
He was a graduate of Yale, and died in the town 
of Paterson, in Putnam county, in 1783, aged 41. 
IX. Eev. Tompkins Close was a Presbyterian min- 
ister, and died, aged 27, at Fishkil], on the 26th of 
September, 1770. X. Mindwell, who 'married 
Ehzabeth Mead, and died on October 22d, 1762. 
Benjamin, the third son of the T/io7nas who emi- 
grated to Greenwich, had nine children— to wit : 
Benjamin, Martha, Elizabeth, Eeuben, Jonathan,' 
Nathaniel, Samuel married Miss Mead, Mary, and 
]N^athaniel. 



A^ PENDIX. 



309 



Samuel, the seventh son of Benjamin, married 
Miss Mead and bad eight children— to wit: Samuel, 
who died while engaged in the Kevolutionary war, 
Elnathan, an active partisan in the war, Henry M. 
Close married Rosina Brundage, Benjamin, Jona- 
than, Daniel, Hannah married Peter Mead, and 
Deborah married Zacchens Mead. 

Henry M Close, the third son of Samuel, married 
Rosina Brundage, and had Samuel, an only son. 

Samuel, son of Henry M. Close, for more than 
twenty years the Town Clerk of the town of Green- 
wich, married Eliza Hobbie, and left— 1. George 
W. Close, who married Miss Esther Smith, daugh- 
ter of Col. Smith, of Long Island, and has Samuel, 
George W., Esther, Caroline, and one other. 2. Re- 
becca is the daughter of Samuel. 

THE CURTIS FAMILY. 

BY J. B. CURTIS, ESQ. 

William Curtis embarked in the ship Lion, June 
22d, 1632, and landed December 16th of the same 
year, in the eighth year of the reign of Charles L, 
at Scituate, Massachusetts. He brought with him 
four children, Thomas, Mary, John, and Philip, and 
shortly afterwards another son, named William, was 
born. William the first removed from b'cituate to 
Roxbury, with his family, from whence John, Wil- 
liam, and their mother removed to Stratford, Conn., 
where the moiher died in 1655. 

2d. Ca^t William Curtis (his name is spelled 



310 APPENDIX. 

Curtice), was a man of high standing in Connecti- 
cut. He was a member of the General Court ten 
or twelve years, from Stratford, often a Commis- 
sioner or Justice of the Peace, and from year to 
year appointed on committees of importance, in 
various parts of the colony. He was appointed 
Nov. 23d, 1673, Captain of the forces raised in 
Fairfield to serve against the Dutch at ISTew Am- 
sterdam, now New York. In October, 1675, he 
was appointed by the General Court, Captain of the 
sixty men to be raised in Fairfield County, to serve 
in King Philip's war, with power to appoint his 
inferior officers. In May, 1676, he was appointed 
with Mr. Samuel Sherman, Commissioner for Strat- 
ford and Woodbury. He died at Stratford, Dec. 
21st, 1702. His will bears date Dec. 15th, 1702, by 
which it appears he had eight children, Daniel, 
Ebenezer, Zachariah, Josiah, Joshua, Sarah, Eliza- 
beth, and Jonathan. 

3d. Cajpt. Josiah Curtis, lived and died at Strat- 
ford, 1745. His children were William, Josiah, 
Abraham, Benjamin, Peter, Mattliew, Charles, 
Abigail, Eunice, Mary, and Mehitable. 

4th. Benjamin was born Dec. 25th, 1704, and 
died July 28th, 1783. He, with his brothers Josiah 
and Matthew, settled at Newtown, and Benjamin 
there had sons Nehemiah and Benjamin. 

5th. Benjamin^ had sons by his 1st wife, Philo 
and Benjamin. By his 2d wife he had Epenetus 
and Divine. 



APPENDIX. 



311 ^ 



6th. Philo^ had sons Nichols, Carlos and Philo. 
and daughters Fatima, Huldah, Polly, and Betsey. 

7th. Nichols Curtis was born in 1784, and died 
in April, 1852. His children were, Charlotte K. , 
born June 1820, and Julius B. Curtis, born Dec. 
10th, 1826. The latter removed to Greenwich, 
Conn., where he now resides, having married Miss 
Mary Acker. 

Arms. Az. a chev. dancettee btw. three mural 
coronets, or. crest a lion sejant ppr. supporting with 
his dexter foot a shield of the arms. Motto — Sepere 
et aude. 



DAYTON FAMILY. 

David Dayton came to Greenwich from Long 
Island in the latter part of the eighteenth century. 
A brother came with him named Jacob, who never 
married. David, married Elizabeth Osborne, and 
had, 1. Betsey, married Jonah Brundage. 2. Jacob, 
married Sarah Brown, and had Samuel B. Dayton 
(who married Mary E. Husted, and has Mary E. Day- 
ton). 3. Sarah Dayton, married William E. Wood. 
4. David Dayton, married Elizabeth Brush, and had 
John Dayton (who married Matilda Selleck, and 
has Mary Francis). Sarah Dayton (married George 
Selleck), Charles, Henry, Mary, Elizabeth (mar- 
ried Solomon Mead), David, and George. 5. Amy, 
married Benonah Bundle. 6. Mehitable. These 
Daytons now all reside in Greenwich. 



312 APPENDIX. 



FIELD FAMILY. 

Bolton, in his history of Westchester county, saj^s, 
that the name of Field is frequent in Doomsday 
Book, and is there often interchanged with Lea, 
which is a word having the same signification. 

John Field, of Ardsley, county of York, England, 
was a distinguished mathematician and astronomer. 
He married Jane Amyas, of Kent, and left Richard, 
Christopher, John, Mathew, Thomas, James, Mar- 
tin, William. 

Robert, the oldest son of James, who was the 
oldest son of Mathew, the fourth son of John Field, 
emigrated from England and settled in Flushing, 
L. I., in 1645. He left Anthony, Benjamin, and 
Robert, who were the ancestors of the family in this 
country. 

FERRIS FAMILY. 

This family is plainly of ISTorman origin. Henry 
de Ferriers, a Norman, obtained from William the 
Conqueror large grants of land in the counties of 
Staffordshire, Derbyshire, and Leicestershire. John 
Ferris and Jeffery Ferris appear to have been ac- 
tive pioneers in the settlement of many new places 
in this country. It is probable, though not certain, 
that they were brothers. 



APPENDIX. 313 



HOLMES FAMILY. 

John Holmes emigrated from Beverly, York- 
shire county, in 1660. He first settled in Bedford, 
N. Y. A full account of this family may be found 
in the Appendix to Bolton's history of Westchester 
county. 

LYON FAMILY. 

This family claims to be of Scottish origin. 
The name of John Lyon occurs in the history of 
Massachusetts as early as 1648. John Lyon, a de- 
scendant of the above, removed to the town of Rye, 
in Westchester county, and was a large landholder 
there. His son, John's fourth son, was named 
James, who was the proprietor of Byram Point, 
and left five children. 1. Daniel. 2. David. 3. 
Benjamin. 4. Wolsey. 5. James. 

LOCKWOOD FAMILY. 

The name of Lockwood is traced back as far as 
1470, when Annie, only daughter of Bichard Lock- 
wood, married Thomas Henshaw, who thereby be- 
came possessed of a large estate in Staffordshire, 
England. Those of the name in Greenwich, Stam- 
ford, and Brundridge are probably descended from 
" Ednnund Lockwood^ freeman, 18th May, 1631, 
was of Cambridge, Mass., in 1632, and probably 



314 APPENDIX. 

removed to Connecticut with Messrs. Hooker and 
Stone." Lieut. Jonathan Lockwood and Lieut. 
Gershom Lockwood were in their day prominent 
and influential men in the town. 

Arms. — Arg. a fesse btw. three martletts, sa. 
Crest. On the stump of an oak erased, ppr., a 
martlett, sa. 

PALMER FAMILY. 

William Palmer, of Westchester, died about 
1670, and left Joseph, Benjamin, Samuel, Obediah, 
and Thomas. 

PUEDY FAMILY. 

This family are descended from Francis Purdy, 
an early settler of Fairfield, who died there, in 
1658. His sons were Francis, John, and Samuel. 

All these families and many others, if so disposed, 
may easily trace out their complete genealogies by 
reference to the town records and good standard 
histories of the present day. 

(The following were handed in just in time to go 
to press). 



APPENDIX. 315 

BRUSH FAMILY. 

BY MISS EMILY C. BRUSH. 

Two brothers of this name came from Long Is- 
land to Greenwich soon after the year 1700, though 
the exact time appears uncertain. Of these, Ed- 
ward had a son named Benjamin, who married 
Sumantha Reynolds, and had I. Fanny, married 
William Rundle. II. Edward, the father of 1 Re- 
becca, who married John Hoyt, Esq. 2. Elma C, 
who married Job Husted, Esq. 3. Joseph E. who 
married Miss Mary C. Wright, and has Edward. 

4. Shadrach M., w^ho married Emmeline Ingersoll, 
and has Snmantha, William P., and Shadrach A., 

5. Mary A., who married Mills Hobby Husted. 6. 
Sumantha. II. Joseph, who married Sarah Mead, 
daughter of Richard Mead, Esq., and has 1. Amos 
M., who married Sarah P. Mead, and had Joseph 
B., Richard M., Amos E., and Augustus. 2. Rich- 
ard E., who married Miss Mary Kelly, and lives at 
Stanwich. 3. Elizabeth S., who married Dr. James 
M. Hoyt, a physician, of Greenwich. 4, Mary 
Louisa, w^ho married Lewis Howe, A. M., Principal 
of the Collegiate Institution of Greenwich. 5. Jo- 
seph E. B. 6. Emily C. 7. Benjamin P. 8. Stella 
P. 9. George W. 10. Catherine. 11. Julia, and 
some others, who died young. lY. Benjamin, who 
married Clarissa Sackett. Y. Sarah, who married 
Deacon Joel Wright. YI. Sumantha, who married 
David Hobby, Esq. YII. Deborah, who married 
Mr. Fitch, of Peekskill. YIIL Piatt, who married 
Maria Close. IX. Edmund Burke. 



316 APPENDIX. 



THE LEWIS FAMILY 



BT 



MISS SARAH LEWIS. 



The great-grandfather of the 'Rev. Dr. Isaac 
Lewis, came from England about the year 1675. 
Two of his brothers accompanied him to America, 
one of whom settled on Long Island, and the other 
at or near Cape Cod. 

The first-mentioned had four sons, viz. : James, 
Edmund, Benjamin, and Joseph. Of these Ed- 
mund, the grandfather of Dr. Lewis, was born in 
1683. He married a lady by the name of Beach, 
and settled in Stratford, Conn. He was Counselor 
of the State, and first Judge of the County Court. 
He died in 1758. He had four sons and several 
daughters. The sons were Sevignor, Edmund, 
Nathaniel, and Ichabod. Nathaniel was born in 
1717, married the daughter of Mr. Zechariah 
Beardsley, of Ripton Parish (now the town of 
Huntington), where he went to reside. He had 
four sons and three daughters. One of the sons 
died in infancy. Zachariah, the eldest, died at 
Huntington in early life, leaving a widow and one 
daughter, whose descendants (it is supposed) are 
still residing in that place. E'athaniel, the youngest, 
married a Miss Worcester. Their children were 
five in number, three sons and two daughters, all 



APPENDIX. Sl« 



of whom subsequently removed to the State of New 
York, a large proportion of them to Augusta in the 
vicinity of Utica, where their families still reside. 
Two of the sisters, Mrs. Bennet and Mrs. Ilawley, 
died in the vicinity of Huntington, leaving children 
and grandchildren, most of whom continue to re- 
side in that part of the State. The family of the 
third sister removed to Ballston, JST. Y., where some 
of them, it is supposed, are still located. ^ 

Dr. Isaac Lewis, the second son of his parents, 
(who lived to grow up to manhood), was born Feb. 
1st, iH6. Graduated at Yale College in 1765. 
Was ordained to the work of the ministry and 
pastor of the church in Wilton, toward the close 
of the year 1T68, and shortly after in December of 
the same year married Miss Hannah Beale, daughter 
of Matthew Beale, Esq., of New Preston, a native 
of England. They had six sons (of whom one died 
in infancy),' and three daughters. 

Further particulars respecting this family may be 
obtained of Miss Sarah Lewis, or Kev. John E". 
Lewis, both of Greenwich, Conn. 

THE HOWE FAMILY. 

About the year 1696, Isaac Howe removed from 
Darien, where several of the name were then set- 
tled, to Coscob in Greenwich. He was the father of 
several children, some twelve or fifteen. Of these^ 
one, named Isaac, had also a very large family, of 
15 



318 APPENDIX. 

whom Isaac, the third, settled in Pecksland, and 

married Elizabeth , and had four sons and 

nine daughters. The sons were named Jonas, Isaae 
(who died young), Nehemiah, and Kev. Samueh 
The daughters were (here given without regard to 
the order of their ages) Laura, Lucy, Cornelia, 
Betsey, who married Kufus Knapp, of Stamford, 
Sally, who married Gilbert Close, one who died 
young, Keziah, Esther, Rachel. 

Of the sous, I. Jonas, married Anna Mead, and had 
1. Allen, who married a daughter of Daniel Lyon, 
of i^orth Coscob. 2. Isaac, who married Miss Finch, 
and removed to the State of Ohio, where he has 
George, Anna, and one other. 3. Deborah, who 
married Mark Mead, jun. 4. Lewis, who married 
Miss Mary L. Brush, and has Anna M., Joseph B., 
and one other. 11. ITehemiali, married a daughter 
of Isaac Holly, Esq., and has a son, William A. 
Howe. III. Samuel, who married a daughter of 
Rev. Piatt Bnffet, and lives at New Haven, having 
two children, named Theodore L. B. Howe and 
Charlotte E. Howe. 



Lb C 



^^^ -^^^ 



-'-'^ "^ 



k <5^, 



. "> 



^r^ <^~ 



> 



'^ V 






^:^ --=<:, 



^ 
<^^ 



^ c,'-^ 

•^^ <^^ 



r. 



^ <^. 



,^/^^:^ ^ ^v"^ 



-;s^ 



-f^ 



^- 



c^. 



.^-,_.^^ 






Oo 






V' ^ 



-<.. ^^^ 






f ,\N 









^. .^ ^ ^- ^ J^" 










.c-^ 


-bo^ 




/ 


•'<^. 


V 



'^4^ 



tT 



.^ ^- 



^' = ^' ^.^ : '-^ c^ 



\^°. 



U. 



> 



'K 



>' - % >> 



'!/■ 



't/> .<V 









^' 












^''^. 













k 


^. 


^ 


^^, 




^^^ ^/ 


r 








,<\^ 


■^-.: 











-^o 



